Lok Sabha Question No. 1245 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Alternatives to Plastics
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, P.P. Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1245

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2022

## Alternatives to Plastics

## 1245.   SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA: SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI: SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

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

- (a) whether the Government has framed any State-wise directions or mechanism for the effective  implementation  of  ban  on  Single  Use  Plastics  (SUPs),  ifso,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is planning to introduce similar and less-harmful alternative(s) of SUPs which iscost-effective for businesses;
- (c) whether the Government has formulated anyplan to compensate those companies and related  employees  who  are  engaged  in  producing  these  SUP'sproducts,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government aims to incentivise manufacturing of biodegradable alternative(s), if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of action plan of the Governmentpreparing infrastructure for collecting and composting biodegradable alternative(s)?

## ANSWER

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

(a)All thirty six States/UTs have constituted the Special Task Force under Chairpersonship of Chief Secretary/Administrator for elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of PWMR, 2016. A National Level Taskforce has also been constituted by the Ministry in this regard.The State /UT Governments and concerned Central Ministries/Departments have also been requested to developa comprehensive action plan and implement it in a time bound manner. The Government of India provides additional central assistance to the States/UTs under the Swachh Bharat Mission for solid waste management including plastic waste management. Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 has specific focus on elimination of single use plastics.

(b)  to  (d):  The  Ministry  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  has  schemes  to  provide support to MSME  units,  which  includes support to such units earlier involved in manufacturing of banned single use plastic  items  for  switching  over  to  alternatives  /  other products.  These  schemes  provide  support  in  respect  of  technology  upgradation,  creating awareness, marketing support, infrastructural support, as per scheme guidelines.

(e):  The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  also  notified  the Guidelines on the Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging vide Plastic Waste Management  Amendment  Rules,  2022,  on  16 th February,  2022.  As  per  these  Guidelines, packaging and carry bags made of compostable plastics are covered under Extended Producer Responsibility. Producers, importers and brand owners are obligated that packaging and carry bags made of compostable plastics, are taken to industrial composting units under  Extended Producer Responsibility.

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