The reason why single-use plastic is prohibited in India starting July 1? - GovtVacancy.Net

The reason why single-use plastic is prohibited in India starting July 1?

In the News:

The Central government has issued the ban on single-use plastics starting on July 1st 2022.

The contents of today's news article:

Concerning single-use plastics that are single-use (How it is produced, the reason it's bad and so on.)
Information Summary (Ban on SUP and how they will implement it, additional measures taken by the Gov. (e.g., ban on SUP, other measures by Gov.)

in Focus Plastics that are single-use (SUP)

Single-use plastics are primarily made from fossil chemical compounds derived from fuel (petrochemicals) which are intended to be removed after the use.
Plastics with a single-use use are commonly employed for packaging and other items like wrappers, bottles straws, bags, straws and bags.
A report released in 2021 from an Australian group said single-use plastics comprise one-third of all plastics produced worldwide with 98% being made using fossil-fuels.
Plastic that is single-use accounts for the bulk of the plastic that is disposed - 130 million tonnes of metric tons in the year 2019.

What is the reason it's bad?

Petroleum-based plastic is not biodegradable. It usually ends up in a landfill in which it is buried, or it enters the ocean and makes its way to the sea.
While plastic is not able to biodegrade (decompose into a natural substance, like soil) it will break down (break in) into tiny pieces in time.
As it breaks apart, plastic release harmful substances (additives which were employed to form and firm the plastic) which are released into our water and food sources.
In the current direction for production the industry has estimated that single-use plastics will contribute 5-10% to greenhouse gas emissions by 2050..

SUP on India

India utilized 18.45 millions tonnes of polymer during the year of 2018, according to estimates from industry experts. The amount of plastic produced during the same period totaled 17 million tons.
According to an TERI report, released in 2018, the average per-capita usage of plastic in India is around 11 kgs. The figure could rise to 20kgs by 2022..
Only 60% of all plastic waste that is recycled .
- Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 required the brand and producer owners to come up with a plan in conjunction with local bodies to implement the system of collecting back.
  - This system is referred to by the name Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR).
- However, efficiency in collection is low in India.

Information Summary

The Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued a gazette announcement in 2021, which announced the prohibition on single-use plastic.
- The prohibition includes the manufacture and import, stocking, distribution, sale and the use of plastics that are used for one-time use..
The ban is set to take effective on July 1 2022.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has formulated the items which will be prohibited from the date mentioned above.
Items that are included on the banned list include cutting tools, plastic sticks wrapping films for packing, wrapping, etc.

What will be the method by which the ban be implemented?

It will be monitored both by the CPCB who is part of the Centre and also through the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) who will be reporting to the Centre frequently.
Instructions have been issued at the national at the state, local and national levels, for instance for all petrochemical businesses and to stop supplying raw materials to businesses involved in the prohibited products.
Local authorities are being instructed to issue new commercial licenses, with the requirement that single-use plastic items are not sold within their premises.
- Commercial licenses that are in effect are cancelled when they are discovered to be selling these products.
Anyone who violates the ban are subject to penalties by The Environment Protection Act 1986 that allows for the possibility of imprisonment for up to 5 years, or a fine that can be up to 1 lakh or both.

Effect on Business:

The companies said the imposition the ban starting on July 1 could cause a number of challenges like supply shortages and arranging for alternatives to items like straws made from paper that are imported in addition to an cost increase.
Action Alliance for Recycling Beverage Cartons (AARC) AARC, which is a coalition of Coca-Cola India, PepsiCo India, Parle Agro, Dabur, Diageo and Radico Khaitan as well as others, warned that the process could result in the loss of 3,300 million of sales in the entire industry.

Additional measures adopted by the government:

The Ministry has already stopped the sale of polythene bags with less than 75 microns from September 2021. This was an increase in the limit to 50 microns.
In December 2022, it will extend the prohibition to bags made of polythene less than 120 microns.
- The ban is introduced in stages to allow manufacturers time to transition to polythene bags with a greater thickness that can be recycled easily.
In accordance with the Plastic Waste Management Rules in 2016, There is an absolute ban on the use of plastic sachets to pack, store or selling tobacco, gutkha as well as pan masala.

What other nations are dealing in the area of the single-use plastics?

This year, 124 countries members of the United Nations Environment Assembly which includes India have agreed to an agreement in this direction.
The resolution is a draft agreement that can be made in the near future to be legally binding to the signatories
- To consider the entire life cycle of plastics, from their production all the way to disposal
- to reduce to end the plastic pollution.
Bangladesh was the first country to ban plastic bags in 2002.
New Zealand became the latest country to prohibit plastic bags in July of 2019. China has issued the ban on plastic bags by 2020. The ban will be implemented in gradual implementation.
As of July, 68 countries have plastic bag bans, with different degree and enforcement.

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