Lok Sabha Question No. 962 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Production of Plastic
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja, Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.  962

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2019

## Production of Plastic

## 962. SHRI A. RAJA:

## SHRI V.K. SREEKANDAN:

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

- (a) the details of the quantum of plastic produced each year within the country, State/UTwise including Tamil Nadu;
- (b) the details of the plastic items recycled each year across the country;
- (c) whether all recycled plastic items are worth using and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Government to dispose off non-recycled plastic items;
- (d) whether nearly 10,000 tonnes plastic waste remains uncollected every year within the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Tamil Nadu along with the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) whether the Government has fixed any deadline to put an end to single-use plastic and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) In  the  report  published  by  Department  of  Chemicals  and  Petrochemicals  in  March, 2019, the production of selected Major Chemicals and Petrochemicals during the years 201415 to 2018-19 shows that the production of plastic increased from 1591 Million Metric Ton in the year 2014-15 to 1719 Million Metric Ton in the year 2017-18 in the country. However, the production for the year 2018-19is 1589 Million Metric Ton.
- (b) to (e) As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which conducted study in 60 major cities of India, it is estimated that around 25,940 Ton/day of plastic waste is generated in India. Approximately 15,384 Ton/day, which is 60% of the total plastic waste, is collected and  recycled.  This  recycled  plastic  is  used  is  manufacturing  of  several  products.  The remaining 10556 Ton/day of the plastic waste, which is estimated to be approximately 40% of plastic waste generation, remain uncollected and littered in the environment. To utilize the uncollected plastic waste, the Rules, 2016 prescribed the local bodies to encourage the use of plastic  waste  (preferably  the  plastic  waste  which  cannot  be  further  recycled)  for  road construction as per Indian Road Congress guidelines or energy recovery or waste to oil etc. Further,  the  Rules  specify  that  recycling  of  plastic  waste  shall  conform  to  the  Indian Standard:  IS  14534:1998.  The  Rules  also  prohibit  the  use  of  carry  bags  made  of  recycled

plastic  or  products  made  of  recycled  plastic  for  storing,  carrying,  dispensing  or  packaging ready to eat or drink food stuff. Tamil Nadu generates approximately 1099 Ton/day of plastic waste.

Hon'ble Prime Minister has announced India's pledge to phase out all Single-use plastic by 2022. The Ministry has issued 'Standard Guidelines on Single Use Plastic' with suggested different set of actions for State/UT Government to minimize the usage of single use plastics. The Ministry issued instructions to the offices coming under its administrative jurisdiction, Regional Offices of the Ministry, offices of Central Government and its departments, major PSUs,  corporates,  institutes  etc.  requesting  them  to  prohibit  single-use  plastic  products including  water  bottles,  take  away  coffee  cups,  lunch  wrapped  in  disposable  plastic packaging, plastic bags, disposable food containers, plates and containers made  of polystyrene foam, plastic straws etc. from their offices.

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