Lok Sabha Question No. 167 (STARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Ban on Single Use Plastic
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Kotagiri Sridhar, Pradeep Kumar Singh

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 167

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2021

## Ban on Single Use Plastic

## *167.   SHRI SRIDHAR  KOTAGIRI: SHRI PRADEEP  KUMAR  SINGH:

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

- (a) the present status of implementation of ban on single-use plastic in the country along with the reasons for delay in its complete implementation;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to encourage substitutes of plastic such as paper, metal and glass etc. and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to make a start in this regard by banning/phasing out  single  use  plastic  such  as  plastic  wrappers  for  cigarette  packets,  packaging alcohol, etc. and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government for plastic waste management including reducing plastic waste generation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

***

## Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  parts  (a)  to  (d)  of  Lok  Sabha  Starred Question No. 167 to be answered on 30 th July, 2021 on 'Ban on Single-use Plastic' by Shri Sridhar Kotagiri and Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh.

(a) The Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016, prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags and plastic sheets less than fifty microns in thickness  in  the  country.  There  is  complete  ban  on  sachets  using  plastic  material  used  for storing,  packing  or  selling  gutkha,  tobacco  and  pan  masala.  Separately,34  States/UTs  have issued  notifications/orders  introducing  regulations  pertaining  to  complete  or  partial  ban  on plastic carry bags and/or identified single-use plastic items, over and above the PWM Rules. The details are annexed.

As  per  the  Plastic  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016,  the  concerned  State  Pollution Control  Board/Pollution  Control  Committee,  Urban  Development  Department  of  State  or Union Territory  and  the  Gram  Panchayat  are  the  prescribed  authorities  for  enforcement  of provisions under the Rules. These authorities shall take assistance of the District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner within their territorial limits of jurisdiction in the enforcement of the  provisions  of  these  rules.  The  local  body  has  to  frame  bye-laws  incorporating  the provisions of the PWM Rules.

As  per  Rule  12  of  the  PWM  Rules,  2016,  25  States/Union  Territories  (UTs)  have taken action against deviations reported under the Rules in their respective States/UTs.

(b): The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has taken steps to encourage transition  from  single  use  plastic  items  to  alternate  materials.    NITI  Aayog  has  already constituted a Committee to find out/develop an alternative product to plastic. The Ministry of Environment,  Forest  and  climate  change  has  shared  with  States/UTs  an  indicative  Action Plan  for  elimination  of  identified  single  use  plastics.  This  indicative  Action  Plan  has  a thematic area on development and promotion of alternatives to prohibited single use plastic items and promoting innovation.

(c) & (d): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had also issued a notification  in  the  Gazette  of  India  vide  GSR  No.  169  (E)  on  11 th March  2021  containing draft provisions for amending Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, inter alia prohibiting the use of identified single use plastic items by 2022, for public consultation.

As  per  the  notification  containing  draft  provisions,  the  manufacture,  import,  stocking, distribution, sale and use of the following identified single use plastic items are proposed to be prohibited as per schedule given below

|   S. No. | Items                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | Phase out date   |
|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|
|        1 | Carry bag made of virgin or recycled plastic less than120 microns in thickness                                                                                                                                                                                             | 30.09.2021       |
|        2 | Non-woven plastic carry bag less than 60 GSM (Gram per square meter) or 240 microns in thickness                                                                                                                                                                           | 30.09.2021       |
|        3 | Ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration                                                                                                                           | 1.1.2022         |
|        4 | single-use plastic (including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene) items plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw,trays, wrapping/packing films around sweet boxes; invitation cards; and cigarette packets, plastic/PVC banners less than 100 | 01.07.2022       |

micron, stirrers.

The  above  provisions  shall  not  apply  to  commodities  (including carry bags) made of compostable plastic material.

The  following  steps  have  been  taken  to  strengthen  implementation  of  Plastic  Waste Management Rules, 2016 and also to reduce the use of identified single use plastic items:

(i) The States/UTs have been requested to constitute a Special Task Force under Chairpersonship of Chief Secretary/Administrator for elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. Already, 19States/UTs have constituted the Special Task Force till date. A National Level Taskforce has also been constituted  by  the  Ministry  for  taking  coordinated  efforts  to  eliminate  identified  single  use plastic items and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

(ii)  The  State  /UT  Governments  and  concerned  Central  Ministries/Departments  have  also been requested for the development of a comprehensive action plan for elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and its implementation in a time bound manner.

(iii) Directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, have been issued to  all  States/Union  Territoriesinter  alia  for  setting  up  for  institutional  mechanism  for strengthening enforcement of Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016.

(iv) The  Government  has  been  taking  measures  for  awareness  generation  towards elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.  A two month long Awareness Campaign of Single Use Plastic 2021 has been organized. The Ministry has also organized pan India essay writing competition on the theme for spreading awareness amongst school students in the country. To encourage innovation in development  of  alternatives  to  identified  single  use  plastic  items  and  digital  solutions  to plastic waste management, the India Plastic Challenge - Hackathon 2021, has been organized for  students  of  Higher  Educational  Institutions  and  startupsrecognized  under  Startup  India Initiative.

(v) A total financial allocation of Rs. 1,41,678 crores over a period of 5 years from 20212026  has  been  made  under  Urban  Swachh  Bharat  Mission  2.0,  with  a  focus  on  complete faecal  sludge  management  and  waste  water  treatment,  source  segregation  of  garbage, reduction in single-use plastic, reduction in air pollution by effectively managing waste from construction-and-demolition activities and bio-remediation of all legacy waste dump sites.

Further, under SBM (U) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has released advisory on plastic waste management, capturing plastic waste generation, plastic waste management rules  and  various  ways  to  manage  plastic  waste  through  reduce,  recycle  and  recovery techniques.  Single  use  plastic  ban  has  been  incorporated  as  an  important  component  in SwachhSurvekshan 2022, Star rating of Garbage  Free Cities and as an entry condition for participating in Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge, to reduce plastic waste.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase II, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, has issued operational guidelines to the States and Union Territories for the sustainability of open defecation free status and solid and liquid waste management in rural areas which includes plastic waste management.

## Annexure

## Notification for banning manufacture, use, sale import and handling of single use plastic products

## (Based on the data available in submitted Annual reports by SPCBs/PCCs)

|   S. No | Name of State/UT              | Complete or Partial Ban   | Date of Gazette or Executive Order   | Remarks                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------|-------------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands     | Complete ban              | 02.08.2010 (Gazette)                 | Complete ban on manufacture, store, import, distribution, transportation, recycle, sell& use of plastic carrybags.                                                                                                                          |
|       2 | Andhra Pradesh                | Not Banned                | Not Available                        | Not Banned                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|       3 | Arunachal Pradesh             | Complete ban              | 03.07.2012 (Executive Order)         | Complete ban on manufacture, store, import, transportation, sell& use of polythene/plastic carrybags                                                                                                                                        |
|       4 | Assam                         | Complete Ban              | 30.04.2019 (Gazette)                 | Plastic carrybags, banners, buntings, cups, cling films, flex, flags, plates, sheets (used for spreading on dining tables irrespective of thickness) including the above items made of thermocol and plastic which use plastic micro beads. |
|       5 | Bihar                         | Complete ban              | 11.12.2018 (Gazette)                 | Complete ban on manufacture, store, import, transportation, sell& use of plastic carry bags                                                                                                                                                 |
|       6 | Chandigarh                    | Complete ban              | 30.07.2008 (Gazette)                 | Complete ban on manufacture, storage, import, sale, use transportation & disposal of plastic carrybags                                                                                                                                      |
|       7 | Chhattisgarh                  | Complete ban              | 24.12.2014 (Gazette)                 | Complete ban on manufacture, store, import, transportation, recycle, sell& use of polythene/plastic carrybags.                                                                                                                              |
|       8 | Daman Diu &Dadra Nagar Haveli | Complete ban              | 24-01-2014 &22.09.2017 (Gazette)     | Forbidding the use, sale/ storage of all kinds of plastic bags                                                                                                                                                                              |
|       9 | Delhi                         | Complete ban              | 23.10.2012 (Gazette)                 | Complete ban on manufacture, import,store, sell & use of plastic products (poly Propylene, non-woven fabric type carrybags),plastic film or plastic tube to pack or cover any book including magazine & invitation/greeting cards.          |
|      10 | Goa                           | Partial ban               | 16.03.2015                           | Government imposed ban on Manufacture, stock, import, transportation, recycle, sale & use of plastic (carrybags, cups, forks, paper plates, spoons) in ChorlaGhat area Mandi Wildlifesanctuaries .                                          |
|      11 | Gujarat                       | Partial ban               | 28.06.2011 (Gazette)                 | Complete ban on plastic products in Gandhi Nagar                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|      12 | Haryana                       | Complete ban              | 20.08.2013 (Gazette)                 | Complete ban on manufacture, stock, import, transportation, recycle, sell& use of plastic (carrybags, cups, forks, paper plates, straws, spoons& containers for the usage of foodstuffs)                                                    |

|   13 | Himachal Pradesh   | Complete Ban                 | 07-07-2009 &13-08-2009 (Gazette)                                                                                                       | Complete ban on use of Carrybags (irrespective of size), polythene, non- biodegradable material,disposable plastic cups, plates, and glasses                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|------|--------------------|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   14 | Jammu & Kashmir    | Complete Ban                 | 03.01.2017 (SRO 45 order- Notification) Jammu District Magistrate has on 01.10.2020 ordered strict enforcement of SRO 45 notification. | Complete ban on manufacture, stocking, distribution, sale and use of polyethylene carry bags, plastic sheets or like, cover made of plastic sheet, plastic packaging and multilayered packaging less than fifty microns in thickness within territorial limits of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|   15 | Jharkhand          | Complete Ban                 | 17.10.2017 (Gazette)                                                                                                                   | Complete ban on manufacture, import, storage, transport, sell and usage of plastic carrybags in the whole State                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|   16 | Karnataka          | Complete ban                 | 11.03.2016 (Gazette)                                                                                                                   | State government banned the plasticbanners, buntings, carrybags (plastic & compostable), cups, cling films,flex, flags, plates, spoons& sheets made of plastic or Thermocoland microbeads usage in the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|   17 | Kerala             | 01.01.2020 (Executive Order) | 22.11.2010 (Executive Order)                                                                                                           | entire state Complete ban on the manufacture, storage, transport and sale of plastic carry bags( irrespective of thickness); plastic sheets( used as table spread); plates, cups and decorative materials made of thermocol/stryrofoam; SUP items like cups, plates, dishes, spoons, forks, straw, stirrer; plastic coated paper cups, plastic coated paper plates, plastic coated paper bowls, plastic coated paper bags; Non woven bags, plastic flags, plastic bunting; plstic water pouches, non branded plastic juice packets ; plastic juice packets; PET/PETE bottles of drinking water of capacities less than 500 ml; garbage bags (plastic); PVC flex materials and plastic packets. |
|   18 | Ladakh             | Partial Ban                  | (Order no-40- LA (GAD) of 2020 dated 23.06.2020)                                                                                       | Ban on the use of plastic water bottles and other plastic made objects in Government offices and other institutions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|   19 | Lakshadweep        | Complete ban                 | 25.01.2019 (Gazette)                                                                                                                   | Complete ban on use, store & sale of plastic carry bags of all thickness, plastic coated carry bags, plastic flags, plastic sheets/films used for wrapping, plastic sheets used as dining table covers, thermocol cups and plates, plastic coated paper cups and plates, plastic teacups, plastic tumblers, plastic teacups, water pouches/packets/PET plastic water bottles, straws,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|   20 | Madhya             | Complete                     | 24-05-2017                                                                                                                             | Production, Storage, Transportation, sale &                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

|    | Pradesh     | ban          | (Gazette)                                              | use of plastic carrybags.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|----|-------------|--------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 21 | Maharashtra | Complete Ban | 23-03-2018 (Gazette) Amendment 11th April, 2018        | Complete ban in the whole State for manufacture, usage, sale storage,transport, and distribution, wholesale & retail, import of the plastic& compostable bags and the disposable products manufactured from plastic &thermocol (polystyrene) - disposable dish/spoon, cups, bowl, container, fork, plates, glasses, straw, non-         |
| 22 | Manipur     | Complete Ban | 12.9.2017 Notification no. 56/38/99 for&Envt           | woven polypropylene bags, cups/pouches. Complete ban on use, store & sale of plastic carry bags                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 23 | Meghalaya   | Partial Ban  | 16.2.2017 Notification No. MPCB/TB- 144B/2016- 2017/79 | Use and sale of plastic bags less than 50 microns has been prohibited and public notice has been issued                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 24 | Mizoram     | Partial Ban  | With effect from 1.8.2019 By Aizwal Municipal          | Complete ban on plastic carry bags below 50 microns                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 25 | Nagaland    | Complete ban | Corporation 01.01.2004 (Gazette)                       | Complete ban on use, store & sale of plastic carry bags                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 26 | Odisha      | Partial ban  | 29.09.2018 (Executive Order)                           | Ban on use and sale of plastic carry bags, bottled drinking water Polyethylene Terephthalate bottles of less than 200 ml capacity; SUP disposable cutleries like thermocol (polystyrene), dish/spoon, cups, bowl, container, fork, glasses & plates in Bhubaneshwar, Berhampur, Cuttack, Puri, Rourkela & Sambalpur                     |
| 27 | Puducherry  | Complete ban | 30.07.2019                                             | (i) Polythene/Plastic/Polypropylene carry bags; (ii) Polythene/Plastic/Styrofoam (Thermocol) cups; (iii) Polythene/Plastic/Styrofoam (Thermocol) plates; (iv) Plastic sheet pouches used for cooked food wrapping; (v) Plastic sheets used for spreading on dining table; (vi) Water pouches; (vii) Plastic straw; (viii) Plastic flag. |
| 28 | Punjab      | Complete ban | 18.02.2016 (Gazette)                                   | Complete ban on Manufacture, stock, distribute, recycle, sale & use of plastic carry bags.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 29 | Rajasthan   | Complete ban | 01.08.2010 (Gazette)                                   | Complete ban on use, store & sale of plastic carry bags                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 30 | Sikkim      | Complete ban | 19.05.2016 (Gazette)                                   | Complete ban on sale & use, storage of disposable items (cups, plates, spoons, containers, etc..) made from Styrofoam.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 31 | Tamil Nadu  | Complete Ban | 01.01.2019 (Gazette)                                   | Complete ban on manufacture, sell, use, storage, Transportation and distribution of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |

|    |               |              |                              | 'Single-use plastics' i.e. plastic carrybags, flags, sheets using for food wrapping, straws, tea cups, tumblers, water packets & pouches                                                                                 |
|----|---------------|--------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 32 | Telangana     | Not Banned   | Not Available                | Not Banned                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 33 | Tripura       | Complete ban | 10.03.2015 (Gazette)         | Complete ban on Sell, use, storage, Transportation & import of plastic carrybags (including polypropylene, non-woven fabric type) plastic tube to pack or cover any book including magazine & invitation/greeting cards. |
| 34 | Uttar Pradesh | Complete ban | 22.12.2015 (Gazette)         | Sell, use, Storage, Transportation & import of plastic carrybags (including polypropylene, non-woven fabric type) plastic tube to pack or cover any book including magazine & invitation/greeting cards.                 |
| 35 | Uttarakhand   | Complete Ban | 01.01.2017 (Gazette)         | Sell, use, storage& Transportation, of plastic carry bags.                                                                                                                                                               |
| 36 | West Bengal   | Partial ban  | 11.01.2018 (Executive Order) | Completely banned in religious and historical places.                                                                                                                                                                    |