हिंदी
Chandigarh, June 30– Haryana government has also banned single use plastic in the state from July 1, 2022. In line with the clarion call given by Prime Minister, Sh. Narender Modi, to phase out single use plastic items by 2022, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on August 12, 2021. Carrying forward the spirit of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahostav’, a defining step to curb pollution caused by littered and unmanaged plastic waste is being taken by the country. The Indian Government has banned manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single use plastic items, which have low quality and high littering potential, all across the country from July 1.
Giving information regarding this, an official spokesperson said that the Government has taken resolute steps for mitigation of pollution caused by littered Single Use Plastic. The list of banned items includes –ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (Thermocol) for decoration, plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing items around sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.
He further informed that the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, also prohibit manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than 75 microns with effect from September 30, 2021 and having thickness less than one hundred and twenty microns with effect from December 31, 2022.
He said that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also notified the Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility on plastic packaging as Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022 on February 16, 2022. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life. The Guidelines will provide framework to strengthen circular economy of plastic packaging waste, promote development of new alternatives to plastic packaging and provide next steps for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging by businesses, he added.
For effective enforcement of ban on identified SUP items from July 1, 2022, national and State level control rooms will be set up and special enforcement teams will be formed for checking illegal manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of banned single use plastic items. States and Union Territories have been asked to set up border check points to stop inter-state movement of any banned single use plastic items, he added.
He further said that the Government has been taking measures for awareness generation towards elimination of single use plastic. The awareness campaign has brought together entrepreneurs and startups, industry, Central, State and Local Governments, regulatory bodies, exports, citizens organizations R & D and academic institutions.
The success of the ban will only be possible through effective engagement and concerted actions by all stakeholders and enthusiastic public participation, he added.
