Plastic Waste Management Rules 2021

Why in news?

• The Environment Ministry notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, which prohibits specific single-use plastic items which have “low utility and high littering potential” by 2022

More about the news:

• Currently the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags and plastic sheets less than 50 microns in thickness in the country.
• There is a ban on sachets using plastic material used for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala.
• The new amendment widens the ambit.

About Plastic waste management rules 2021:

• In the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly held in 2019, India had piloted a resolution on addressing single-use plastic products pollution.
• The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities shall be prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022:-
  • Ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol)  for decoration, plates, cups, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards etc.
• The ban will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic
• The permitted thickness of the plastic bags, currently 50 microns, will be increased to 75 microns from 30^th September, 2021, and to 120 microns from the 31^st December, 2022
• The plastic packaging waste, which is not covered under the phase out of identified single use plastic items, shall be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable way through the Extended Producer Responsibility of the Producer, importer and Brand owner (PIBO), as per Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
  • For effective implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility the Guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility being brought out have been given legal force through Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.
• The waste management infrastructure in the States/UTs is being strengthened through the Swachh Bharat Mission
  • States/UTs are mandated to constitute a Special Task Force and to develop a comprehensive action plan for elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
  • A National Level Taskforce to be constituted by central government to coordinate efforts to eliminate identified single use plastic items and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Implementing authority:

• The Central Pollution Control Board, along with state pollution bodies, will monitor the ban, identify violations, and impose penalties.

What are compostable plastics?

• Instead of using plastic made from petrochemicals and fossil fuels, compostable plastics are derived from renewable materials like corn, potato, and tapioca starches, cellulose, soy protein, and lactic acid.
• These are non-toxic and decompose back into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass when composted

PRELIMS QUESTION

Which of the following statements are correct regarding ‘Plastic waste management rules 2021’?

1. The rule prohibits identified single use plastic items which have low utility and high littering potential by 2022.

2. The rule stipulates a complete ban on commodities made of compostable plastic

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer