Lok Sabha Question No. 947 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Garbage Burning
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Kotagiri Sridhar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 947

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.09.2020

## Garbage burning

## 947. SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

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

- (a) whether  Government  has  taken  note  of  incidence  of  garbage  burning  across  several villages in the country owing to lack of alternate ways to dispose off garbage;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  stop  the  practice  of  garbage  burning  in  the country to curb the release of toxic gases, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether Government is strictly implementing the ban on single use plastic in the country; and
- (d) if so, the action taken by Government on such companies which have been manufacturing items using single use plastic?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and  (b):The  Ministry  has  notified  the  Solid  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016  and  Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. Both the Rules, have specific provisions dealing with burning of wastes. Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, it is stipulatedthat 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,  these  Rules  cast  specific  duties  and responsibilities  on  local  authorities  and  village  Panchayats,  wherein inter  alia the  waste generators are to be directed not to litter any waste or burn or burry waste on streets, open public spaces, drains, waste bodies. The street sweepers are also to be directed not to burn tree leaves collected  from  street  sweeping.  Under  the  Plastic  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016,  the  Local bodies  are  also  required  to  ensure  ensuring  that  open  burning  of  plastic  waste  does  not  take place.

As per Solid Waste Management Rules, each State/Union territory had to prepare a policy and solid  waste  management  strategy  in  consultation  with  stakeholders,  consistent  with  the  Rules. The State /  Union  territories  are  also  to  ensure  the  implementation  of  these  rules  by  all  local authorities.

(c)  and  (d):  As  per  Plastic  Waste  Management  (PWM)  Rules  2016,  plasticcarry  bag  made  of virgin  or  recycled  plastic  less  than  fifty  microns  in  thickness  has  been  prohibited  along  with sachets using plastic materials for storing, packing or sellinggutkha, tobacco and pan masala.The Ministry  has  also  issued  'Standard  Guidelines  on  Single  Use  Plastic'  with  suggestions  on different  set  of  actions  for  State/UT  Governmentsfor  minimization  of  Single-use  plastic. Considering the high environmental cost associated with the use ofSingle-use plastic, particularly the adverse effect on soil, water bodies and on marine environment, Hon'ble Prime Minister has announced  India's  pledge  to  phase  out  Single-use  plastic  by  2022.  Many  States/UTs  through their own notifications have imposed partial or complete prohibition on the use of plastic carry bags/single  use  plastic.  32  States/UTs  have  issued  notifications/orders  introducing  regulations pertaining to complete or partial ban on plastic carry bags and/or other single-use plastic items.

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