single use plastic ban
India imposed a complete ban on single use plastic items. The government has said that the ban on manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single use plastic items with low utility and high waste potential will be strictly enforced across the country. Single-use plastics are generally items that are thrown away after being used only once and do not go through the recycling process.
Here are some of the things that are banned:
Earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks, polystyrene for decoration (thermocol), plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, Films of less than 100 µm and stirrer surrounding trays, wrapping or packing sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners. These are some of the biggest contributors to plastic pollution.
The adverse impacts associated with single-use plastic items littered with both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are recognized globally.
Some alternatives that can be used instead:
1. Paper, jute, glass, wood and clay, among others, can be a better and lower cost alternative to banned items. There are many small enterprises and entrepreneurs in the country who can meet the growing demand for such alternatives.
2. Stainless steel made of various metals such as iron, chromium, nickel etc. can be used.
3. Bamboo can be a major alternative as it grows in abundance in the country. It is a highly biodegradable item.
4. Wood is also biodegradable, and has the potential to be one of the best alternative solutions.
Reasoning behind banning plastic
In line with the clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eliminate single-use plastic items by 2022, the Union Environment Ministry had notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021 on August 12, 2021.
Taking forward the spirit of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ on the 75th year of Independence, the country is taking a decisive step to curb the pollution caused by litter and unmanaged plastic waste.
Penalty for violating the ban
Any violation of norms – manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use – will attract penalties and penalties prescribed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
According to the Act, whoever fails to comply with the provisions shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both. If the failure or contravention continues, an additional fine which may extend to five thousand rupees for every day during which such failure or contravention continues, may be imposed.
monitoring measures
A National Control Room has been set up at the Central Pollution Control Board to oversee the enforcement of the ban, in order to properly monitor the process of elimination of such plastic items in a phased manner, apart from undertaking wide awareness activities including social media campaigns to the State Boards. has been asked to start. Interactive meetings with industries, colleges, schools and other institutions.
State boards have been directed to intensify inspection of industrial and commercial establishments for effective implementation of the ban.
On the demand side, instructions have been issued to e-commerce companies, major users of single-use plastics, as well as manufacturers of plastic raw materials to phase out such items.
Several industries had earlier argued that India has low production capacity for alternative solutions to such banned items, and any shortage of such items could increase manufacturing costs and hurt their margins.
In order to accelerate production, capacity building workshops are being organized for industrial units to provide technical support for manufacturing of substitutes for banned single-use plastic items with the participation of various government agencies.
Provisions have also been made to help many such enterprises move away from banned single-use plastics.
(with ANI inputs)