June 18 -- The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a government agency under the Indian Ministry of Environment, has released a list of measures and bans to ban the use of single-use plastic products in the country from July 1, 2022.
As part of its comprehensive action plan, CPCB's multi-pronged approach includes measures to reduce the supply of raw materials, demand-side measures to reduce the demand for plastics, enabling measures to promote SUP alternatives, digital interventions for effective monitoring and awareness, and guidance to state boards for effective implementation of directives. The notification bans the manufacture, import, storage, distribution, sale and use of the following identified single-use plastic products, which have low utility and high potential for littering, effective July 1, 2022.
i. Ear plugs with plastic sticks
Plastic sticks for balloons
Plastic flags
Candy sticks, ice cream sticks
Polystyrene, for decoration
ii. plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays and other tableware, packaging or packaging film around candy boxes, invitation cards
iii. cigarette packaging, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns, stirrers.
The CPCB issued instructions to e-commerce companies and plastic raw material manufacturers who are dominant sellers or users of single-use plastics to phase out identified single-use plastic items.
Under the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016, a complete ban on the use of plastic material for storage, packaging or sale of gutka, tobacco and masala in scented packets has come into effect.
Under the PWM (Amendment) Rules, 2021, the manufacture, import, storage, distribution, sale and use of carrier bags made of virgin or recycled plastics smaller than 75 microns, instead of 50 microns as earlier recommended under the PWM Rules, 2016, are prohibited from September 30, 2021.
