Lok Sabha Question No. 43 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Plastic Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde, Rahul Ramesh Shewale

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 43

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## Plastic Pollution

## *43. DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:

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

- (a) whether plastic pollution is a threat to human health and environment with scientific reports having proved that plastic is embedded throughout the food chain and if so, the facts thereof;
- (b) whether currently, more than 10,000 chemicals (additives) are used to manufacture plastics with close to one-fourth of the chemicals being proven to have adverse effects on human health and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released a report titled 'The Plastic Life-cycle November, 2022;
- (d) if so, the details of the facts revealed by the reports released by CSE; and
- (e) the reaction of the Government thereon and corrective measures taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

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

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Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  parts  (a)  to  (e)  of  Lok  Sabha  Starred Question  No.  43  to  be  answered  on  6 th February,  2023  on  'Plastic Pollution'  by  Dr.  Pritam  Gopinathrao  Munde,  Shri  Rahul  Ramesh Shewale, Hon'ble Members of Parliament.

- (a)  &(b):The  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  conducted  a  study  'Impact  of  Plastic  Waste Disposal on soil and water quality at Lucknow dumpsites'. It was observed in the study that dumping of plastic waste may deteriorate soil and underground water quality due to leaching of additives, colours, stabilizers and  fillers present in different categories of plastic products.Additive chemicals and microplastics released from unmanaged and littered plastic waste can cause pollution of environment. Scientific reports on human health risk associated with  additive  chemicals  and  microplastics  have  variable  conclusions.  Some  studies  have estimated microplastics in different environment  samples, biota and/or human tissue.  Long term studies are required at relevant exposure levels to understand potential negative impacts on human health and to reach at conclusive findings.
- (c)& (d):The report on  'Plastic  Life-cycle'  prepared  by  an  NGO -  Centre for  Science and Environment, was released by them in November 2022 and is available in public domain. The report covers different stages of plastics from production, consumption, waste generation and management including recycling.
- (e) Identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, have already been prohibited, with effect from  1st July, 2022, vide Plastic  Waste Management  Amendment  Rules,  2021notified  on  12 th August  2021.The  notification  also prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than seventy-five microns with effect from 30th September 2021, and having thickness less than thickness of one hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging vide Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, on 16th February 2022.  The Guidelines stipulate mandatory  targets  on  EPR,  recycling  of  plastic  packaging  waste,  reuse  of  rigid  plastic packaging and use of recycled plastic content. The guidelines provide for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging and reducing the plastic foot print. The implementation of ban on identified single use plastic items coupled with extended producer responsibility on plastic packaging will reduce pollution caused by littered and unmanaged plastic waste.

The  following  steps  have  been  taken  to  strengthen  implementation  of  Plastic  Waste Management Rules, 2016 and to implement ban on identified single use plastic items:

- (i) All thirty-six States/UTs have constituted the Special Task Force under the chairpersonship of the Chief Secretary / Administrator for elimination of identified single use plastic items and effective plastic waste management. 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. Four meetings of the National Task Force have been held.

(ii) Twenty Four State /UT Governments and concerned Central Ministries/Departments have already  developed  a  comprehensive  action  plan  for  elimination  of  single  use  plastic  and implement it in a time bound manner.

(iii) Directions  have  been  issued  under  Section  5  of  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act, 1986 for setting up of institutional mechanism for enforcement of provisions of Plastic Waste Management  Rules,  2016  to  all State Pollution Control Boards  / Pollution Control Committees. Directions have also been issued to E-commerce companies, leading single use plastic  sellers/users,  and  plastic  raw  material  manufacturers  with  respect  to  phasing  out  of identified single use plastic items. Separately, custom authorities have been asked to stop the import of banned SUP items

(iv) For effective monitoring of ban on identified single use plastic items and plastic waste management  in  the  country  the  following  online  platforms  are  in  operation  (a)  National Dashboard  on  for  monitoring  of  comprehensive  action  plan  implementation,  (b)  CPCB Monitoring  Module  for  Compliance  on  Elimination  of  Single  Use  Plastic,  and  (c)  CPCB Grievance Redressal App.

(v) Regular enforcement drives have been undertaken by CPCB, SPCBs/PCCs to implement ban on identified single use plastic items and on plastic carry bags having thickness less than one hundred twenty microns.

(vi) In order to provide assistance to MSME enterprises transitioning away from single use plastic items to eco-alternatives, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has made provisions in their ongoing schemes. A National Expo on eco-alternatives to banned single use plastics items and Conference of Startups - 2022 was organized jointly with Government of  Tamil  Nadu  in  Chennai  on  26-27th  September  2022  to  raise  awareness  on  alternatives. Awareness generation and capacity building programmes have been organized for elimination of single use plastics.

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