The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has issued a detailed advisory to the states and union territories to implement the nationwide ban on single use plastic.
These steps will include large-scale cleaning and plogging campaigns, with special emphasis on plastic waste collection, as well as large-scale tree plantation drives, with the participation of all citizens – students, voluntary organisations, self-help groups, local NGOs. Organizations/CSOs, NSS & NCC Cadets, RWAs, Market Associations, Corporate Institutions etc.
“In view of the twin mandate of World Environment Day and India’s committed ban on SUPs till 30 June 2022, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has directed the States and Union Territories to undertake a number of activities to fulfill these mandates. A detailed advisory has been issued for this,” a statement from the ministry said.
The consultation includes a plethora of suggested initiatives to implement the committed nationwide SUP ban.
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0, currently being implemented by MoHUA, plastic waste management, including elimination of SUPs – is an important area of focus. Under the mission, every Urban Local Body (ULB) is required to adopt 100% source segregation of waste, and Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to segregate dry waste (including plastic waste) into further fractions for recycling or processing. ) is accessible. into value-added products, thereby reducing the amount of plastic and dry waste that ends up in dumpsites or reservoirs.
While 2,591 ULBs (out of 4,704) have already reported notification SUP ban as per directions of Central Pollution Control Board and MoEF&CC, States/UTs will be required to ensure that the remaining 2,100 ULBs exceeding 30 June Notify it by 2022. ULBs will need to identify and eliminate SUP ‘hotspots’, while in parallel leveraging the support of State Pollution Control Boards and formation of special enforcement squads, conduct surprise inspections and enforce SUP restrictions on defaulters. Heavy fines and penalties would be required.
As per the PWM (Amendment) Rules, 2021, the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than seventy five microns (75 μ i.e. 0.075 mm thickness) have been banned. As against Fifty Microns (50 µs) recommended earlier under the PWM Rules, 2016 with effect from 30th September, 2021. As a result of this new provision, citizens are now encouraged to stop using street vendors, the thin plastic carry bags provided by local shopkeepers. , vegetable vendors etc. and use alternative options.
States and urban local bodies have also been advised to enter into MoUs with nearby cement plants or other industrial units to ensure that a part of the plastic waste generated is either used as alternative fuel in cement plants or used for road construction purposes. For the latter purpose, ULBs or their Public Works Departments will need to come up with detailed guidelines for the use of SUP/multilayered plastics in road construction.
All these initiatives are to be documented by the States/UTs and ULBs through a detailed protocol for documentation and reporting for monitoring at the highest level.