Delhi: Single-use plastic still problem, action plan to push alternatives
Category : Plastic pollution |
Location : Delhi | Posted on 2021-08-08 23:05:48
NEW DELHI: With the government proposing to prohibit plastic items in stages, the environment department of Delhi government is formulating an action plan after consulting experts on possible alternatives for identified single-use plastic. Two meetings with stakeholders have been conducted to seek suggestions on possible alternatives.
The environment ministry has proposed prohibiting sale and manufacture of six items, including earbuds, plastic sticks, balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks and polystyrene (thermocol) from January 2022 and 13 items, including plates, cups, glasses and cutlery, from July 2022. As the Centre is targeting to phase out single-use plastic in mission mode by 2022 from the country, the government plans to prohibit the sale and manufacture of plastic bags less than 240 microns from this October. The banning of these items is part of the draft Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2021.
A senior official said the environment department is conducting virtual discussions with leading FMCGs, research institutes, plastic associations, recyclers, consultants, sustainability entrepreneurs, private sector and brand owners for brainstorming on potential single-use plastic alternatives and its feasibility.
“We have been asking all speakers to give suggestions on feasible alternatives of 19 single-use plastic items as per the draft Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2021 for the purpose of drafting a policy note, specific to Delhi,” said the official.
The chief secretary has stressed the importance of all stakeholders working together and evolving a pragmatic action plan with clear timelines and responsibilities for phasing out single-use plastic, the official added.
At the recent meeting of the stakeholders, some suggestions that were presented were reduction of tax for entrepreneurs manufacturing plastic alternatives, replacing plastic bags with eco-friendly options, incentivising green and sustainable products, conducting mass awareness campaigns for both consumers and manufacturers, recycling of some products and ensuring strong enforcement on implementation of alternatives to single-use plastics.
The special task force, which has been constituted to work for phasing out single-use plastic, had asked Delhi Pollution Control Committee to make concerted efforts to ensure that all industrial units functioning in Delhi and are falling within the purview of the Plastic Waste Management (amended) Act, 2016 are registered under the relevant provisions of the Act within a prescribed time limit.
“DPCC should conduct awareness regarding registration of manufacturers, producers and recyclers to bring more producers into the registration net by August. Thereafter, DPCC should conduct a special enforcement drive in September and October against unregistered plastic manufacturing and recycling units,” suggested an official.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/single-use-plastic-still-problem-action-plan-to-push-alternatives/articleshowprint/85163149.cms
