Union Government notified E-Waste Management Rules, 2016

Union environment ministry has notified new plastic waste management rules, The Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules 2016, issued will replace the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011.The ministry also increased the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 microns to 50 microns.

• The new rules also focus on phasing out of non-recyclable multi layered plastic and increasing reuse of plastic waste especially in applications like road construction and waste to energy.
• The move will help in achieving our Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Swachh Bharat bringing the country’s gram panchayats into the picture and introducing the concept of extended producer Responsibility (EPR).
• Every day Staggering 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated but of that, only 9,000 tonnes is collected and processed.

Key Guidelines by the Ministry:

• Collection mechanism based methodology has been adopted under Extended Producer Responsibility and Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) have been introduced for manufacturer, dealer, and refurbishers.
• Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and other mercury containing lamp were brought under the purview of rules for the first time.
• Provision for Pan India EPR Authorization by Central Pollution Control Board has been introduced replacing the State wise EPR authorization.
• Deposit Refund Scheme was bring together as an additional economic instrument wherein the producer charges an additional amount as a deposit at the time of sale of the electrical and electronic equipment.
• The amount will be reimbursed to the consumer along with interest when the end-of life electrical and electronic equipment is returned.

India’s Plastic Waste:

India is 12th in the list of top 20 countries notorious for disbursing the maximum amount of plastic waste into the high seas from their respective coastlines topped by China.