Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 Notified
Explicit Recognition to Waste Pickers under New Rules
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has today notified the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011. It replaces the earlier Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules,1999 (amended in 2003). These Rules have been brought out following detailed discussions and consultations with a wide spectrum of stakeholders including civil society, industry bodies, relevant Central Government Ministries and State Governments.
Releasing the Rules the Minister of Environment and Forests, Mr. Jairam Ramesh said ‘’ It is impractical and undesirable to impose a blanket ban on the use of plastic all over the country. The real challenge is to improve municipal solid waste management systems. In addition to the privatization and mechanization of the municipal solid waste management systems we must be sensitive to the needs and concerns of the lakhs of people involved in the informal sector’’
Some of the salient features of the new Rules are ban on use of plastic materials in sachets for storing ,packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala, no food stuffs will be allowed to be packet in recycled plastics or compostable plastics, recycled carry bags to have specific BIS standards, colour to the prescription by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), uniform thickness shall not be less than 40 microns in carry bags etc.
One of the major provisions under the new Rules is the explicit recognition of the rule of waste pickers. The new Rules require the municipal authority to constructively engage agencies or groups working in waste management including these waste pickers. This is the very first time that such a special dispensation has been made.
The Municipal authority shall be responsible for setting up, operationalisation and coordination of the waste management system and for performing the associated functions, This include to ensure safe collection, storage, segregation, transportation, processing and disposal of plastic waste:, no damage to the environment during this process, setting up of the collection centers for plastic waste involving manufacturers, its channelization to recyclers:, to create awareness among all stakeholders about their responsibilities , and to ensure that open burning of plastic waste is not permitted.
KP
(Release ID :69649)
Tuesday 08 February, 2011.
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Ban on use of plastics for packaging tobacco products
The Environment Min on Monday issued a notification banning the use of plastics for packaging gutka and other tobacco products after it was pulled up by the Supreme Court for not implementing the law regulating the use of the environmentally harmful polymers.
The Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 also bans the packaging of foodstuffs in recycled plastics or compostable plastics.
On 2nd February, the Supreme Court had refused to grant more time to the Centre for implementing the law to regulate the use of plastic for packaging tobacco products and asked it to notify that within two days.
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, however, on Monday said it is impractical and undesirable to impose a blanket ban on the use of plastic all over the country.
“The real challenge is to improve municipal solid waste management systems. In addition to the privatisation and mechanisation of the municipal solid waste management systems, we must be sensitive to the needs and concerns of the lakhs of people involved in the informal sector,” the Minister said.
The new notification replaces the earlier Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999 (amended in 2003).
“These Rules have been brought out following detailed discussions and consultations with a wide spectrum of stakeholders including civil society, industry bodies, relevant central government Ministries and state governments,” the Ministry said.
Under the new Rules, recycled carry bags shall conform to specific Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
“Plastic carry bags shall either be white or only with those pigments and colourants which are in conformity with the bar prescribed by the BIS. This shall apply expressly for pigments and colourants to be used in plastic products which come in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water.
The new rules say that plastic carry bags shall not be less than 40 microns in thickness. Under the earlier rules, the minimum thickness was 20 microns.
Several state governments have stipulated varying minimum thickness. It is now expected that 40 microns norms will become the uniform standard to be followed across the country, the Ministry said.
According to the new rules, the minimum size (of 8×12 inches) for the plastic carry bags prescribed under the earlier Rules has been dispensed with.
“Carry bags can be made from compostable plastics provided they conform to BIS standards,” it said.
One of the major provisions under the new rules is the explicit recognition of the role of waste pickers.
“The new rules require the municipal authority to constructively engage agencies or groups working in waste management including these waste pickers. This is the very first time that such a special dispensation has been made,” the Ministry said. (DD-7.2)
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