Lok Sabha Question No. 957 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Ban on Polythene Bags
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Lallu Singh, E. T. Mohammed Basheer, Kanakmal Katara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.  957

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2019

## Ban on Polythene Bags

## 957. SHRI LALLU SINGH:

SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER: SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has recently issued instructions regarding complete ban on polythene bags/plastics, plastic bottles, envelops and other items of packaging in the country, if so, the details thereof along with the alternative mechanisms developed/suggested in this regard;
- (b) whether any awareness programme is being run by the Government to implement the said ban properly and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to impose heavy fine on use of such plastics which could not be recycled and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to recycle all the recyclable plastics and if so, the details of provisions in this regard;
- (e) whether any standards have been fixed by the Government regarding production of polythene and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the provisions of punitive action to be taken on violating the said standards along with the total number of cases in which punishment has been awarded on violation of the same?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) The  Ministry  has  issued  'StandardGuidelines  on  Single-Use  Plastic'  with suggestions  on  different  set  of  actions  by  State/UT  Governments  to  minimize/reduce  the usage of Single-use plastic.

The  Ministry  has also written letters to all States/UTs, all offices under its administrative jurisdiction, Regional Offices of the Ministry, all Ministries, offices of Central Government and its departments, major PSUs, corporates, institutions etc. to prohibit Singleuse  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  respective  offices.  Awareness creation exercise were undertaken in schools through Eco-Clubs operating in different States about ill effects of 'Single-use plastic'.

On the call of Hon'ble Prime Minister, a three-phase campaign 'Swachhta Hi Sewa' (SHS)  was  also  launched  from  11th  Sep,  2019,  which  ended  on  Diwali  i.e.  27th October 2019. This campaign inter-alia focused on awareness, advocacy, collection and safe disposal of littered plastic.Under the campaign, all stakeholders i.e. general public, students, industry, governments, and local bodies came together and collected waste plastic from houses, streets, public places like parks, beaches, markets, religious and tourist places etc.

(c) to (f) The  Government  has  notified  Plastic  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016  for environmentally sound management of plastic waste and to prevent plastic pollution in the country. On the 'Polluter Pays Principle', the generators of waste under the Rules have been mandated  to  take  steps  to  minimize  generation  of  plastic  waste,  not  to  litter  such  waste, ensure  segregated  storage  of  waste  at  source  and  handover  the  segregated  waste  to  local bodies  or  the  agencies  authorised  by  them  or  to  the  registered  waste  pickers  or  registered recyclers.  Provisions  have  also  been  made  for  registration  of  all  plastic  recyclers  with respective State/UT Pollution Control Boards/Committees.Every Urban Local body has been made responsible for setting up of infrastructure for collection, segregation and processing, including recycling and disposal of plastic waste.

As per the provisions of Rules,plastic bags, sheets or like with thickness less than 50 microns  is  prohibited.  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 is also prohibited. Further, sachets using plastic material are prohibited for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala. Multi-layered plastics which are non-recyclable, nonenergy recoverable or which have no alternative use is also to be phased out.There are 4773 registered plastic manufacturing / compostable manufacturing /Multi-Layer Plastic manufacturing / recycling units in the country. Approximately 15,384 tonnes per day, which is 60% of the total plastic waste generation in the country, is collected and recycled.

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 etc.The local bodies have also been mandated to create awareness among all stakeholders about their respective responsibilities.

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