Lok Sabha Question No. 3199 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-12
Subject: Problem of Plastic Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3199

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12/07/2019

## Problem of Plastic Waste

## 3199.   SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the problem of plastic waste in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  laid  down  norms  for  manufacturing  and  use  of degradable and undegradable plastics and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has taken initiatives to set up waste/garbage management system using technology at hilly and religious locations and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether  indiscriminate use of plastic is one of the reasons for  environment degradation; and

- (e) if so, the details thereof and the remedial measures being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes  Sir,  the  management  of  plastic  waste  in  the  country  has  been  increased exponentially  in  past  few  years.  Therefore,  the  Government  in  suppression  of  the  earlier Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 has notified the revised Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
- (b) The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 defines the norms for compostable plastic. The Rules prohibit the use of plastic bags with thickness less than 50 microns. However, the provision of thickness is not applicable to carry bags made up of compostable plastic. Further, the  carry  bags  made  from  compostable  plastics  has  to  conform  to  the  Indian  Standard:  IS 17088:2008 titled as Specifications for Compostable Plastics.

(c) The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 has stipulated criteria and actions to be taken for solid waste management in hilly areas and prescribes avoiding the construction of landfills on the hills.  However, a suitable land should be identified in the plain areas below the hills,  within 25 kilometers, for setting up sanitary landfill.

(d) and (e) The  indiscriminate use of plasticis causing several problems  including littering,  chocking  of  drains,  marine  pollution  etc.  Therefore,  the  Rules  prescribes  that  the generators of waste have to take steps to minimize generation of plastic waste, not to litter the plastic waste, ensure segregated storage of waste at source and handover segregated waste to local  bodies  or  agencies  authorised  by  the  local  bodies.  The  rules  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 the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility.

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