Question : Use of Plastic in Packaging Industry

(a) whether the single use plastic has been completely banned across the country, if so, the details there of State-wise including Maharashtra;
(b) whether it is a fact that Corona Virus has resulted in increased dependence on single use plastic;
(c) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to make the nation free from single-use plastic;
(d) whether the Government noticed the acute shortage and non-availability of alternatives to single use plastics and if so, the details thereof;
(e) the steps taken to ensure the enough availability of alternative items in affordable price; and
(f) the corrective measures taken or proposed to betaken by the Government to ban the use of plastic in the packaging industry to prevent environmental degradation?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a): The Ministry had notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, vide GSR NO. 571 (E) on 12th August 2021, in the Gazette of India, prohibiting the following identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potentialwith effect from the 1st July, 2022. Further, over and above the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended, thirty four states/UTs have issued notifications/orders to introduce regulations pertaining to complete or partial ban on plastic carry bags and/or identified single-use plastic items. The details are annexed.

(b) The Government has from time to timeissued guidelines/ standard operating procedures (SOPs) on preventive measures to contain spread of COVID 19. These guidelines/SOPs inter alia include use of personal protective equipment and face covers/masks. The Central Pollution Control Board has issued “Guidelines for Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Waste Generated during Treatment/Diagnosis/ Quarantine of COVID-19 Patients” including disposal of personal protective equipment including waste masks and gloves.

(c): All thirty six States/UTs have constituted the Special Task Force under Chairpersonship of Chief Secretary/Administrator for elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of PWMR, 2016. A National Level Taskforce has also been constituted by the Ministry in this regard.The State /UT Governments and concerned Central Ministries/Departments have also been requested to developa comprehensive action plan and implement it in a time bound manner. The Government of India provides additional central assistance to the States/UTs under the Swachh Bharat Mission for solid waste management including plastic waste management. Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 has specific focus on elimination of single use plastics.

(d) & (e): The comprehensive action plan of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for elimination of single use plastics includes providing support to MSME units with respect to technology upgradation, creating awareness, marketing support, infrastructural support for adopting alternatives to banned single use plastic items, through various schemes of the Ministry. The States and UTs have also been asked to provide incentives for promotion alternatives, as part comprehensive action plan template shared with them.

(f):The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also notified the Guidelines on the Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging vide Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022, on 16th February, 2022. The prescriptions of mandatory targets for reuse of rigid plastic packaging, minimum level of recycling of plastic packaging waste and use of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging, will promote circular economy and reduce plastic foot print of plastic packaging thus preventing environmental degradation.

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