(a) whether phasing out of 20 listed single use plastics, from September 30, 2021 through July 1, 2022, is running as per schedule;
(b) whether these 20 listed single use plastics for phasing out covers most of the part of total single use plastic pollution in the country; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a)to (c): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on 12th August 2021, prohibiting manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single use plastic items, with effect from the 1st July, 2022.
The notification also prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than seventy five microns with effect from 30th September, 2021, and having thickness less thanthickness of one hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022. Non-woven plastic carry bags of less than 60 gram persqm (GSM) is also prohibited from 30th September 2021. The items prohibited under Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, namely, ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration; plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers, have low utility and high littering potential. These items therefore contribute towards single use plastic pollution.The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also notified the Guidelines on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Plastic Packaging vide Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022, on 16th February, 2022.
In order to strengthen implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and to also enforce the phasing out of identified single use plastic items, as per timelines,special Task Force under the chairpersonship of the Chief Secretary / Administrator has been set up in thirty two States/UTs, for elimination of identified single use plastic items pursuant to the directions of the Ministry. A National Level Taskforce has also been constituted by the Ministry to ensure the implementation of the ban on single use plastic from 1st July 2022.
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