Lok Sabha Question No. 4520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: Ban on Import of Plastic Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sudheer Gupta, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Rakesh Singh, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Kaushalendra Kumar, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4520.

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2019

## Ban on Import of Plastic Waste

## 4520.     SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIV RAO MANDLIK:

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  about  20,000  tonnes  of  plastic  waste  is generated every day in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  reduce  the generation of plastic waste in the country;
- (c) the  quantum  of  plastic  waste  imported  during  each  of  the  last  three  years  and  the current year along with the reasons for import;
- (d) whether the Ministry has decided to ban import of plastic waste to curb pollution, if so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  the  import  of  plastic  is  likely  to  be banned;
- (e) whether the instructions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in this regard are not being complied with and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  taken/  proposes  to  take  various  steps  to  protect environment and control pollution and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and  (b) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) conducted study in 60 major cities of India. It has been estimated that around 4059 ton per day of plastic waste is generated from these cities. Extrapolating this, it is estimated that around 25,940 ton per day of plastic waste is generated in the country.The Government of India in order to regulate the manufacture and use of plastic carry bags and ensure the environmentally sound management of plastic waste in the country has notified  the  Plastic  Waste  Management  (PWM)  Rules,  2016  in supersession  of  the  Plastic  Waste  (Management  and  Handling)  Rules,  2011  on  18  March 2016. In order to reduce the generation of plastic waste in the country, the Government has issued directions to commissioners of 46 million-plus cities & 20 state capital cities and 118 towns  located  on  bank  of  Ganga  river  relating  to  prohibit  manufacturing  &  use  of  sub- standard (<50µ thickness) plastic carry bags (having handle or non-handle). The Government has also been promoting 100% bio-based, compostable carry bags, conforming IS/ISO 17088. In addition, 21 States/Union Territories in the country have notified more stringent norms and imposed ban on plastic carry bags and other items in their respective States/UTs.

- (c) According to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the quantum of plastic waste imported under HS code 3915 during last three years (2016-17 to 2018-19) and current year 2019-20 (April,2019) is as follows:

| Period            | Quantity in Metric Ton   |
|-------------------|--------------------------|
| 2016-17           | 155,787                  |
| 2017-18           | 181,638                  |
| 2018-19 218,747   |                          |
| 2019-20(April'19) | 19,305                   |

*Figures  for  the  financial  years  2018-19  &  2019-20  are  provisional  and  are subject to change.

- (d) The Ministry has notified the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management  and Transboundary  Movement)  Amendment  Rules,  2019  vide  notification  G.S.R.178(E)  on  1 March 2019 as per which solid plastic waste (Basel No. 3010) has been prohibited from being imported  into  the  country  including  in  Special  Economic  Zones  (SEZ)  and  by  Export Oriented Units (EOU). A window of six months, i.e. up to 31 August 2019 has been provided to the importers in SEZ and EOUs in order to provide them with time to honor their prior business commitments and make necessary arrangements to comply with the provisions of the amendment.
- (e) The Hon'ble NGT in its order (OA No .851/2018) dated 30 April 2019 directed CPCB to take action for ensuring that its recommendation is fully implemented by all concerned in the matter of implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules as well as restriction on import of  plastic  waste  is  implemented  in  such  manner  as  may  be  directed  by  the  CPCB.In compliance to the order CPCB has issued directions under Sec 18(1) (b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to all SPCBs/PCCs on dated 27.06.2019 to ensure that pulp & paper units which are importing waste paper containing plastic should manage plastic waste in accordance with the provisions of Plastic Waste Management Rules,2016.
- (f)    The  Ministry  in  supersession  of  earlier  waste  management  rules  has  comprehensively revised  6  waste  management  rules  including  Solid  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016.  The Rules prescribe that no waste generator shall throw, burn or bury the solid waste generated by him,  on  streets,  open  public  spaces  outside  his  premises  or  in  the  drain  or  water  bodies. Further, the Rules direct the waste generators to segregate the waste at source and hand over the segregated waste to authorised waste pickers or waste collectors. The Rules mandate the Urban  Local  Bodies  to  frame  Bye-Laws  incorporating  the  provisions  of  Solid  Waste Management Rules, 2016 and ensure timely implementation. Apart from framing the policy, the Central Government is also supporting the efforts of State Governments in establishing the  infrastructure  related  proper  implementation  of  solid  waste  management  in  their  states. MoHUA is implementing the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) project under which various projects have been taken up. Under this programme during the mission period of 2014-15 to 2019-20,  an  allocation  of  Rs.  7424.24  Cr  has  been  made  for  Solid  Waste  Management Projects.

*****