NEW DELHI, June 28:
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav today said the Government has given enough time to the industry and the general public to prepare for the ban on single-use plastic (SUP) items and it hopes for everyone’s cooperation in implementing it from July 1.
Environment Ministry officials said the notification to phase out 19 SUP items was issued under the Environment Protection Act (EPA) and any violation will invite punitive action, including a fine or a jail term, detailed under Section 15 of the Act.
“The notification to phase out the 19 identified SUP items by July 1, 2022 was issued in August 2021. We have given enough time (to prepare for the phasing out of SUP items). We gave them (those dealing in SUP items) certainty for the future, made them understand and the majority of them support it,” the minister said in response to a question on some industry representatives saying they are not ready for the ban.
“I have met the industry representatives and the Government hopes for their cooperation in phasing out single-use plastic items,” he said.
On August 12 last year, the ministry had issued a notification prohibiting manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified SUP commodities, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene from July 1, 2022.
The identified SUP items include earbuds, plastic sticks for balloons, flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol), plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweets boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners of less than 100 micron, and stirrers.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India generates around 2.4 lakh tonnes of SUP per annum. The per capita SUP production is 0.18 kg per year. (PTI)
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