New Delhi: To implement the ban on single use plastic from July 1, the Centre has decided to set up national and state level control rooms and special enforcement teams to check illegal manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of banned single use plastic items.
“States and Union Territories have been asked to set up border checkpoints to stop the inter-state movement of any banned single-use plastic items” the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change said.
“Addressing pollution due to single use plastic items has become an important environmental challenge confronting all countries,” it said. The adverse impacts of littered single use plastic items on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, including in marine environments, are globally recognized.
In view of this, the government has taken resolute steps for mitigation of pollution caused by littered single use plastic.
The list of banned items includes ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration, plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets and plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron.
The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibit manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than seventy five microns with effect from September 30, 2021, and having thickness less than thickness of 120 microns with effect from December 31, 2022.
The guidelines will provide a framework to strengthen the circular economy of plastic packaging waste, promote development of new alternatives to plastic packaging and provide next steps for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging by businesses.