What proposed PWM rules means for the businesses — the prohibitions (part 2)
Proposed Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021 has brought positive thoughts and we see its movement in the right direction. The amendment focuses on reducing the use of plastic and says prohibition of certain plastic items. We have discussed it and the timeline for prohibition below.
1.Prohibition from 1st January 2022
- 1st January 2022 onwards plastic use in earbuds, balloon sticks, flags, candy sticks is prohibited. Thermocol for decorative purposes is also prohibited.
- The prohibition is not only on sales but manufacture, import, stocking, and distribution as well. These plastic ‘leak items’ mostly end up in landfills or oceans. The said step seems to be a way to arrest the microplastic menace in our ocean.
2. Prohibition from 1st July 2022
- From 1st July 2022 plastic invitation cards, cigarette packets, and banners below 100 micros, plastic cutlery items such as plates, cups, glasses, fork, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping film, etc., are prohibited across India.
- Many states including Maharashtra have already banned most of these items.
- Plastic disposables mentioned above is a big menace at weddings, tourist/picnic spots. Although the containers used for food are recyclable, if not washed before throwing they result in non-recycling.
We feel these are welcome steps as far as the environment is concerned but effective implementation is required. These disposables have found their way back during COVID-19, even in states where a ban on these items is in place. These bans/prohibitions could have kicked in a lot earlier but better late than never.
For further clarification please refer to the original notification here http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Draft-Plastic-waste-Notification.pdf
In case you have suggestions and/or objections you can write to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, Aliganj, New Delhi-110003, or email: satyendra.kumar07@nic.in, amit.love@nic.in.
Contributed By- Rahul Juware, Director and Ashlesha Karande, Communication Executive at Social Lab
Social Lab Environmental Solutions is a waste management company, which helps brands take-back and scientifically dispose of post-consumer plastic waste of their products. Brands take our services to fulfill Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligation under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2018.
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