‘Single-Use Plastic’ use to be outflow from July 1st, 2022 by the Union government. Single-use plastics, particularly those made of polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, will be illegal to produce, import, stock, distribute, sell, and use starting on July 1, 2022, nationwide. A national task group has also been established by the Environment Ministry to make coordinated efforts in this area.
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Key Points:
- According to a response submitted by Minister of State for Environment Ashwini Choubey in Parliament, fourteen states and UTs have joined the special task force by July 23.
- The Delhi Environment Department will also launch a campaign on July 1 to guarantee compliance with the ban on 19 single-use plastics in the national capital, and any producers, suppliers, stockists, dealers, or sellers found in violation of the restrictions would be shut down.
- The manufacturing, importation, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of certain single-use plastic (SUP) goods, such as candy sticks, plates, cups, and cutlery, have been outlawed as of July 1, 2022, according to the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, which were announced by the Center.
Background of the Decision:
- India will completely phase out single-use plastics by 2022, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s June 2018 announcement.
- India led the development of a resolution at the fourth United Nations Environment Assembly in 2019, recognizing the urgent need for the international community to pay attention to this issue.
- From September 30, 2021, plastic carry bags will have a thickness of 75 microns; by December 31, 2022, it will be 120 microns.
- An approach to policy known as “extended producer responsibility” requires companies to handle the disposal of their own products once consumers have declared them to be useless.
- In order to eliminate SUP and effectively implement the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the Center had previously requested that states and union territories form a special task force under the direction of the chief secretary or the administrator.
List of items Identified as SUP:
- Earbuds, plastic balloon sticks, flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol), plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweets boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, and banners made of less than 100 micron thick are among the 19 items identified as SUP.
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