Lok Sabha Question No. 456 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Use of Polythene Bags
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI, SANTOSH AHLAWAT

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 456

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2015

## Use of Polythene Bags

## 456. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI: SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

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

- (a) the details of the policy of the Government in regard to the use of Polythene Plastic carry bags in the country;
- (b) whether Polythene Plastic carry bags remain in use despite the imposition of a ban;
- (c) if so, whether any monitoring of the same is undertaken at the Ministerial level;
- (d) if so, the details and the type of monitoring undertaken in this regard;
- (e) whether the Government has any proposal to implement a uniform law across the country with regard to a ban on the use of Polythene Plastic carry bags;
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, which prohibit manufacture, sale, stocking and use of plastic  carry  bags  of  less  than  40  micron  in  thickness.  The  pigments  and  colourants  used  for manufacturing of plastic carry bags should conform to the Bureau of Indian Standard.  No carry bags  should  be  made  available  free  of  cost  by  retailers  to  consumers.  The  name,  registration number  of  the  manufacturer  and  thickness  should  be  printed  on  each  plastic  carry  bag.  The municipal authorities are required to notify the minimum price for carry bags so as to minimize plastic waste generation. Any person manufacturing carry bags or engage in recycling of plastic waste is required to register with concerned State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee.

- (b) The use of polythene bags above 40 micron thickness is permitted as per the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, and are in use.

(c) & (d) Does not arise in view of the reply to part (b) above. However, as per, Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, the State Pollution Control Boards is responsible for enforcement  of  provisions  of  the  abovementioned  rules  in  respect  of  manufacture,  registration and recycling. The Municipal authority is responsible for enforcement of provisions relating to use and sale of such bags in their jurisdiction.   As per the mechanism under the Rules, all State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and the Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) are required to submit annual report to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which in turn is required prepare  a  consolidated  report  on  use  and  management  of  plastic  waste  and  forward  it  to  this Ministry.

(e), (f) & (g) There is no proposal at present to impose a ban on the use of plastic carry bags.

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