On Friday, India’s Environment Ministry proposed a three-phase ban on single-use plastic items under the draft Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021.
The rule would be implemented in three stages, starting this year, and would be completed by 2022. The government is keeping a 60-day chance for reviews from stakeholders.
The first and second stages include items with alternatives easily available.
The first phase proposes the increase of polythene bags’ thickness from 600 microns to 120 microns, and those with less thickness are banned in the country. This set is planned to be effective starting September 30 this year.
The second stage would include the ban on sales, manufacture, usage, and import and distribution of six categories of single-use plastic, such as earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic flags, ice-cream sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration. It would be effective starting January 2022.
The third stage would begin on July 1, 2022, with the banned item list increased. Plastic plates, glasses, cutlery (plastic forks, spoons, knife, trays), packaging films from sweets boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic/PVC banners less than 100 micron, thermoset plastic, thermoplastic, and stirrers.
The rules will be implemented by waste generators, local bodies, village councils, manufacturers, importers, etc.
According to an official, the manufacturers and brand owners of the remaining items will be granted additional six months to work out their plan using compostable plastic or other alternatives.
At the moment, India’s plastic waste generation is 25,940 tpd but the plastic waste collection is just at 60% of the total.
