Single-Use Plastic Banned In India From July 1: Check List of Banned Items

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New Delhi: The Center has released guidelines to states urging them to ban the use of specific single-use plastics starting from July 1, 2022, which is another key step in the effort to lessen the threat of plastic pollution.

Single-use plastics are often products that are thrown away after being used just once and are not recycled.

Some of the prohibited items are listed below:

Earbuds with plastic sticks, balloon sticks, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decorations, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery like forks, spoons, and knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns, and stirrers.

These are some of the main causes of plastic pollution.

Globally, it is acknowledged that single-use plastic waste has a negative impact on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Several substitutes that may be used in its place include:

1. A better and less expensive substitute for the prohibited items can be made from materials including paper, jute, glass, wood, and clay.

There are numerous small businesses and business owners in the nation who can satisfy the growing demand for such alternatives.

2. You can use stainless steel, which is composed of a number of different metals, including iron, chromium, and nickel.

3. Bamboo might be a significant substitute because it is widely grown in the nation. It is a very biodegradable product.

4. Wood has the potential to be one of the best alternative solutions because it is biodegradable as well.

Reason for banning plastics

The Union Environment Ministry notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on August 12, 2021, in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unequivocal call for the phase-out of single-use plastic items by 2022.

A significant step is being taken by the nation to reduce pollution brought on by discarded and poorly managed plastic garbage in keeping with the spirit of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava”—the 75th anniversary of Independence.

Penalty for violating the ban

Any infraction of the regulations for the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and usage shall result in penalties and sanctions specified under the Environment Protection Act of 1986.

The Act states that anyone who violates the rules may be punished with up to five years in prison, a fine up to RS 1 lakh, or a combination of the two.

If the failure or violation persists, a further fine up to 5000 rupees may be levied for each day that the violation or failure persists.

Monitoring measures

A National Control Room has been established in the Central Pollution Control Board to properly monitor the phase-out of such plastic products. In addition, the state boards have been asked to conduct extensive awareness campaigns, including social media campaigns and interactive meetings with businesses, colleges, schools, and other institutions.

In order to ensure that the ban is implemented effectively, the state boards have also been instructed to step up their inspections of industrial and commercial establishments.

On the demand side, instructions have been given to plastic raw material producers as well as e-commerce firms, which are the biggest consumers of single-use plastics, to phase out such products.

A number of sectors had previously complained that India has a limited capacity to produce alternatives to such prohibited items, and may lack of such articles may increase manufacturing prices and negatively affect their margins.

Various government agencies are collaborating to offer capacity-building workshops for industrial units to give them technical support for manufacturing alternatives to banned single-use plastic items in order to increase output.

Additionally, provisions have been established to assist numerous businesses in moving away from the illegal single-use plastics.

Also Read: BMC raids to crack down on Single Use Plastic in Bhubaneswar

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