On August 13, 2021, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 6, 8 and 25 of Environment (Protection) Act 1986, (29 of 1986), the Central Government amended the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016 with Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021.
- These new rules were notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) prohibiting the identified single use plastic items with low utility and high littering potential w.e.f. July 1, 2022.
Why are these rules formulated?
These rules are formulated on the lines of the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi call to phase out single use plastic by 2022 in order to tackle the adverse impacts of littered plastic on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Single-use plastic commodities prohibited under PWM (Amendment) Rules, 2021:
The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities is prohibited:
- Earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration;
- Plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC Polyvinyl chloride) banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.
Increase of Plastic Bag Thickness:
In order to stop littering due to light weight plastic carry bags, it has been decided to increase their thickness to make them reusable.
- With effect from September 30, 2021, the thickness of plastic carry bags has been increased from 50 microns to 75 microns.
- Then from December 31, 2022, it will be increased to 120 microns.
Key Points:
i.The plastic packaging waste, which is not covered under the phase out of identified single use plastic items will be managed in an environmentally sustainable way through the Extended Producer Responsibility of the Producer, importer and Brand owner (PIBO), as per Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
ii.For effective implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility, the Guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility have been legalized through PWM Amendment Rules, 2021.
iii.It should be noted that in the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) held in 2019, India had piloted a resolution on addressing single-use plastic products pollution.
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About Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC):
Union Minister– Bhupender Yadav (Constituency- Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS)– Ashwini Kumar Choubey (Constituency- Buxar, Bihar)
