Lok Sabha Question No. 2562 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Pollution in Ocean by Plastic Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2562 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## Pollution in Ocean by Plastic Waste

## 2562. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has enacted any stringent measures or proposes to enact any law to prevent pollution in oceans due to plastic waste;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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. 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 authorised 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.

Through the CRZ Notification, 2018 several activities are prohibited in the CRZ areas like setting up and expansion of units or mechanism for disposal of wastes and effluents, except for some essential activities. Government of India, has initiated several programmes such as 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', National Mission for Clean Ganga and Smart Cities Mission' in order to develop clean and sustainable environment.

To  tackle  the  problem  of  marine  littering  particularly  due  to  the  plastic  wastea  Steering Committee with stakeholders from  all  the concerned  Ministries  and  Departments  has  been constituted by MoEFCC.The Ministry is joining hands with Norwegian Government to work on  a  project  bilaterally  to  reduce  marine  litter  and  plastic  pollution.  Similarly,  a  bilateral project  with  German  Government  to  close  the  loop  of  marine  litter  in  ecosystems  is  also underway.

Hon'ble Prime Minister has announced India's pledge to Ban all Single-Use Plastic by 2022. In  this  regard  Ministry  has  issued  guidelines  and  written  letters  to  offices  of  Central Government and its departments, major PSUs, corporates, etc to prohibit single-use plastic products in their offices.

Further,32  States/Union  Territories  have  issued  notifications/orders  introducing  regulations pertaining to complete ban on plastic carry bags and/or other single-use plastic items.

The Rules stipulates stringent norms for plastic that cannot be recycled. The carry bag made of virgin or recycled plastic less than fifty microns in thickness has been prohibited due to non-recyclability. There is complete ban on sachets using plastic material used for storing, packing  or  sellinggutkha,  tobacco  and  pan  masala.  Further  the  recycling  of  plastic  waste should conform to the Indian Standard: IS 14534:1998 titled as Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics.

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.  The primary  responsibility  for  collection  of  used  multi-layered  plastic  sachet  or  pouches  or packaging is fixed on the producers, importers and brand owners who introduce the products in the market.  They need to establish a system for collecting back the plastic waste generated due to their products.

Further, the Rules mandate the local bodies to frame bye-laws incorporating the provisions of these rules. All waste generators shall pay user fee or charge as may be specified in the byelaws of the local bodies for plastic waste management such as waste collection or operation of the facility thereof, etc.

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