Lok Sabha Question No. 1026 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: Use of Plastic
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAMESH BIDHURI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1026

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2016

## Use of Plastic

## 1026. SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has fixed any norms for manufacturing and use of biodegradable and non biodegradable plastics in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  indiscriminate  use  of  plastic  has  been  a  major  reason  for  environmental imbalance in the country; and
- (d) if so, the corrective steps likely to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a)  &  (b):    The  Plastic  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016  notified  by  the  Government  regulate manufacturing,  sale  and  use  of  carry  bags  made  from  compostable  plastic,  virgin  plastic  and recycled plastic,  and  the  plastic  sheet  or  like.  The  manufacturing  and  use  of  plastic  sheet  and carry  bags  of  thickness  less  than  50  microns  is  prohibited.        Producers,  recyclers  and manufacturers  of  plastic  carry  bags  or  multilayered  packaging  are  required  to  obtain  prior registration from concerned State Pollution Control Board or the Pollution Control Committee of the Union Territory. The manufacture and use of non-recyclable multilayered plastic is required to be phased out in two years time from the date of notification of the Rules.  As per the rules, each plastic carry bag made is required to have the name, certificate number, etc. printed on it.

In  addition,  these  Rules  provide  for  ways  and  means  to  minimize  plastic  waste  generation, adoption of extended producer responsibility by the producers, importers and brand owners for collection of waste generated from their products involving State Urban  Development Departments, and for recycling/utilization of plastic waste in road construction, energy recovery, etc.

As per the Rules, the compostable plastic of carry bags is required to conform to the standards of Bureau of Indian Standards.   The manufacturer or seller of compostable plastic carry bags is required  to  obtain  a  certificate  from  the  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  before  marketing  or selling. Determination of the degree of degradability and degree of disintegration of compostable plastic material has to be as per the Indian standards listed under the Rules.

(c) & (d): Plastic waste and discarded plastic material if not collected systematically may choke drainage system and create unhygienic conditions. Animals ingest plastic bags and/or sheets with the discarded food leading to their illness and sometimes death. Plastic waste, when disposed of on  soil,  reduces  recharging  of  ground  water  aquifers  and,  when  disposed  of  in  landfill  sites, causes leaching into the soil and ground water.  The Rules notified by the Government contain enabling  provisions  to  minimize  plastic  waste  generation  and  setting  up  of  sustainable  plastic waste management system. The States/ Union Territories have been asked to ensure implementation of the Rules.

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