Lok Sabha Question No. 2408 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Scientific Recycling of Plastic Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shardaben Anilbhai Patel, Janardan Mishra, Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel, (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2408

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2021

## Scientific Recycling of Plastic Waste

2408. SHRIMATI SHARDABEN ANILBHAI PATEL:

SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI):

SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

DR. RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  action  plan  to  encourage  the  small entrepreneurs engaged in scientific recycling of plastic waste;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the details of the measures taken by the Government for the disposal of plastic waste  from  those  Units  which  were  closed  down  by  National  Green  Tribunal  and rehabilitated; and
- (d) the  details  of  institutions/administrative  departments  working  on  the  awareness campaign to eliminiate the use of plastics?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (c): Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016, as amended provide the regulatory framework  for  management  of  plastic  waste  generated  in  the  country.As  per  Rule  5(a)  of PWM Rules, plastic waste, which can be recycled, shall be channelized to registered plastic waste recyclers.As per Rule 13(5) of PWM Rules, plastic waste recyclers are required to be registered  with  the  concerned  SPCB/PCC.  There  are  1419  number  of  registered  recyclers present across the countries, which recycle15.62 lakh tons plastic waste.

The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  notified  the  draft Regulations  on  the  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  for  plastic  packaging  under  Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended from time to time, in the Gazette of India vide GSR No. 722 (E) on 6th October, 2021for public consultation.

As  per  the  draft  notification,  the  producer,  Importers  &brand-owners  respectively shall ensure minimum level of recycling (excluding end of life disposal) of plastic packaging waste  collected  under  Extended  Producer  Responsibility.  The  enforceable  prescription  of minimum level of recycling of plastic packaging waste collected under Extended Producer Responsibility  to  producer,  Importers  &brand-owners  in  the  draft  notification  will  further strengthen circular economy of plastic packaging waste and encourage scientific recycling of plastic waste.

The  Ministry  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  has  schemes  like  Prime Ministers Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Raw Material Assistance Scheme, Incubator,  Design  and  IPR  Scheme  which  may  be  availed  by  the  concerned  small entrepreneurs engaged in scientific recycling of plastic waste,  as per scheme guidelines.

(d): The Union Government through various central ministries and government agencies has  been  involved  in  generating  public  awareness  on  plastic  waste  management  including single-use plastics. Some of the public awareness campaigns run by Ministry of Environment, Forest  and  Climate  Change,  Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs,  and  Society  for Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) are given below:

-  A three-phase campaign 'Swachhta Hi Sewa' was undertaken in 2019 where citizens collected Single Use Plastic from the houses, streets etc. and deposited the waste at designated locations for recycling.
-  Further, for spreading awareness among the coastal cities and towns, beach cleaning drive was also taken up across 50 beaches.
-  Under the National Green Corps (NGC) programme of the Ministry, about one lakh schools  have  been  identified  as  Eco-clubs,  wherein,  nearly  thirty  lakh  students  are actively  participating  in  various  environment  protection  and  conservation  activities including plastic waste management.

As part of Iconic Week Celebrations of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change from 4th to  10th  October  2021  under  Azadi  Ka  Amrit  Mahotsav,  64  events  were organized across the country as part of awareness programme to avoid the use of single-use plastics. These events were organized by regional offices, subordinate and attached offices, autonomous  institutions  of  the  Ministry,  Institutions  under  Indian  Council  of  Forestry Research  and  Education  (ICFRE),  ENVIS  Centres  supported  by  the  Ministry,  Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees.

Further,  the  Ministry  has  organized  an  Awareness  Campaign  of  Single  Use  Plastic 2021. Four events have already been organized as part of the Campaign. 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 - Hackathon2021, has been organized for students of Higher Educational Institutions and startups recognized under Startup India Initiative.