Lok Sabha Question No. 4421 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Alternative to Single-Use Plastic
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh, P. C. Mohan, Jagdambika Pal, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4421

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2020

## Alternative to Single-Use Plastic

## 4421.   SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA:

SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

SHRI JAMYANG TSERING NAMGYAL:

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

- (a) the present rules/laws that regulate the use of single-use plastic in the country;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  enact  a  new  law  to  punish  people  for  usage  of single-use plastic and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has issued any standard guidelines to States for minimising the usage of single-use plastic and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  any  expert  group  has  been  constituted  for  Research  and  Development  of  any alternatives  to  plastic  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  other  steps  taken  to provide substitute or alternatives of plastic in the country; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  provided  incentives  to  manufacturers  and  traders  for moving from plastic  to  other  alternatives,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  other  steps taken by the Government to end/phase out single-use plastic?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO )

(a) to (c) The Government has notified Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The Rules prohibit  the  use  of  carry  bags  made  of  virgin  or  recycled  plastic  less  than  fifty  microns  in thickness. Sachets made of plastic material for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala are also prohibited. As per the Rules, the generators of waste have been mandated to take  steps  to  minimize  generation  of  plastic  waste,  not  to  litter  the  plastic  waste,  ensure segregated storage of waste at source and handover segregated waste to local bodies or agencies authorized by the local bodies. The rules also mandate the responsibilities of local bodies, gram panchayats,  waste  generators,  retailers  and  street  vendors  to  manage  plastic  waste.  The  rules mandate the producers, importers and brand owners to work out modalities for waste collection system based on the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility.

Further,  considering  the  high  environmental  cost  associated  with  the  use  of  single-use  plastic, particularly the adverse effect on soil, water bodies and on marine environment, Hon'ble Prime Minister has announced India's pledge to phase out Single-use plastic by 2022. Many States/UTs through their own notifications have also imposed partial or complete prohibition on the use of plastic  carry  bags/single  use  plastic.  23  States  and  9  UTs  have  issued  notifications/orders introducing regulations pertaining to complete ban on plastic carry bags and/or other single-use plastic items.

The Ministry had issued 'Standard Guidelines for Single-Use Plastic' on 21 st January 2019 to all States/UTs and Ministries. The  Standard guidelines entailed  waste  management  system improvements, legal options for States/UTs to prohibit SUP items through regulatory measures, eco-friendly  alternatives,  social  awareness  and  public  education.  The  guidelines  also  included measures to be taken by government offices.

(d) and (e) A committee  has  been  constituted  by  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB) with respect to research and development for Oxo-Biodegradable Technology on Plastic. It has been  decided  that  CPCB  will  analyse  the  information  available  on  the  subject  of  biodegradable/compostable  plastic  including  Oxo-Biodegradable plastic.  Further,  Central  Institute of  Plastics  Engineering  &  Technology  (CIPET)  is  advised  to  perform  all  tests  on  OxoBiodegradable Technology on Plastic.

Establishments  are  not  directly  incentivized  for  not  using  plastics,  however,  the  producers, importers  and  brand  owners  have  initiated  steps  to  set  up  material  recovery  facilities  by  their own or through the Producers Responsibility Organizations (PRO) for collection of plastic waste and  are  tying  up  with  the  registered  recyclers  for  the  recycling  of  plastic  waste.  This  EPR mechanism  has  created  additional  source  of  income  for  recyclers.  Further,  the  producers, importers and brand owners are switching towards alternate packaging to reduce the EPR cost.

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