Lok Sabha Question No. 1997 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-19
Subject: Circular Economy
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1997

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2022

## Circular Economy

## 1997.  SHRIMATI KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has initiated the formation of policy on circular economy as announced in the budget 2022-2023;
- (b) if so, the details of the sectors being prioritised;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to ensure implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016; and
- (d) the intent and progress of Mission Lifestyle for Environment announced at UNFCCC COP 26?

## ANSWER

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

(a)& (b): The Central Government has notified rules on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for four categories of wastes i.e. plastic packaging waste, battery waste, e-waste and waste  tyre.  These  rules  promote  circular  economy  principles  through  Extended  Producer Responsibility (EPR) based market mechanism and have set targets for recycling, recovery and use of recycled content. Also, the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways has notified the  Vehicle  Scrappage  Policy  that  aims  at  bringing  in  circularity  in  end-of-life  vehicle segment.

Ten (10) identified  priority  waste  streams  for  which  Circular  Economy  Action  Plans  have been  developed  includeEnd-of-Life  Vehicles,  Toxic  and  Hazardous  Industrial  Waste,  Tyre and  Rubber  Recycling,  Electronics  and  Electrical  Sector,  Lithium-ion  batteries,  Gypsum, Scrap Metal (ferrous & non-ferrous), Solar Panels, Used Oil and Municipal Solid Waste. The aforementioned rules are outcomes of these Circular Action Plans.

(c): The  Solid  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016  provide  the  statutory  framework  for  solid waste management in the country. The enforcement of rules is done by the concerned State Pollution Control Board/  Pollution Control Committee  through  local  bodies  in their respective jurisdictions.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, Additional Central Assistance is provided for scientific management of solid waste in both urban and rural areas. Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 has a vision  of  creating  'Garbage  Free  Cities'.  Under  this,  issues  such  as  source  segregation, collection & transportation, and processing, including effective management of solid waste, plastic waste and remediating all legacy dumpsites, are covered.

Directions have been issued under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to all State Pollution Control Board / Pollution Control Committees for enforcement of bio-mining of legacy waste and management of fire incidents in dumpsites. Separately, Guidelines have also been issued on environmentally sound management of solid waste including disposal of legacy waste and sanitary waste.

(d): Mission  LiFE  (Lifestyle  for  Environment)  announced  at  UNFCCC  COP  26  aims  to promote  an  environmentally  conscious  lifestyle  that  focuses  on  'mindful  and  deliberate utilisation'  instead  of  'mindless  and  wasteful  consumption'  by  utilising  the  power  of collective action, strengthening social networks, and nudging individuals across the world to undertake simple, climate-friendly actions in their daily lives and influence sustainable social norms.

Awareness  generation  and  outreach  activities  on  Mission  LiFE  have  been  undertaken  by several Ministries/Departments in order to sensitise the public at large and all stakeholders about the need for mindful utilization instead of mindless consumption of resources.

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