Lok Sabha Question No. 4529 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: Plastic Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar, Krupal Balaji Tumane

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4529

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2019

## Plastic Waste

## 4529.   SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR: SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

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

- (a) the average annual consumption of plastic in the country and the quantity of plastic waste generated;
- (b) the names of the major Cities/ States responsible for generation of maximum plastic waste;
- (c) whether the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  regarding  the  harmful  effects  of plastic waste on human health and environment and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued any directions/ guidelines in this regard;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (f) the steps being taken by the Government for management and safe disposal of plastic waste including plastic packaging along with the measures taken to ensure safety of workers engaged in plastic industry in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)&(b) According to National Accounts Statistics 2015, brought out by the CentralStatistics  Office  (CSO),  the  average  production/consumption  of  plastic products  during  theyears  2011-12  to  2015-16  (up  to  September  2015)  is  707 Million Metric Tons per annum with the growth rate of8.3% per year in chemical and  chemical  products  sector.  The  Central  Pollution  Control  Board(CPCB) conducted a study in 60 major cities of India wherein it been estimated that around 4059T/day  of  plastic  waste  is  generated  from  these  cities.  The  major  cities generating  plastic  waste  are  Delhi,  Chennai,  Kolkata,  Mumbai  and  Bengaluru. Extrapolating the plastic wastegeneration data from 60 major cities to the entire country,it  is  estimated  that  around  25,940T/day  of  plastic  waste  is  generated  in India.
- (c) In a study by Central Pollution Control Board, it was observed that heavy metals, chlorides, phthalates etc. migrate from plastic waste into the surroundingmedium

because  these  are  not  chemically  bound  and  remain  present  in  mobile  and leachable phase.

- (d)to(f) The National Green Tribunal vide its judgment in Original Application No. 199 of2014  in the matter of Almitra  H. Patel Versus  Union  of India issued consolidated directionsto the states and the Union Territories for implementation of  Solid  Waste  ManagementRules,  2016  and  Plastic  Waste  Management  Rules, 2016.The  Government  has  notified  Plastic  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016.  As per  theRules,  the  generators  of  waste  have  been  mandated  to  take  steps  to minimize  generation  ofplastic  waste,  not  to  litter  the  plastic  waste,  ensure segregated  storage  of  waste  at  source  andhandover  segregated  waste  to  local bodies  or  agencies  authorized  by  the  local  bodies.  Therules  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 theprinciple of Extended Producer Responsibility.The occupational safety, health and  welfare  ofworkers  employed  in  the  factories  are  taken  care  by  various legislations by Government ofIndia i.e. the Factories Act 1948 and others.

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