SINGLE-USE PLASTIC

covered under the phasing out of identified single use plastic items will be collected and managed in an “environmentally sustainable way” through the extended producer responsibility (EPR) of the producers, importers and brand owners, as per Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, according to a statement issued by the environment ministry on Friday.

A framework for EPR was already there in the Plastics Waste Management Rules, 2016 but the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021 says that guidelines will be issued from time to time for implementation of the EPR. “This means there will be legal backing for EPR,” said a senior environment ministry official who did not wish to be named.

The waste management infrastructure in states and Union territories is being strengthened through the Swachh Bharat Mission, the environment ministry said on Friday, adding States and UTs have been requested to constitute special task forces for elimination of single-use plastics.

A national level task force was constituted by the ministry for coordinating the elimination of identified single-use plastic items, and for the implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

According to a fact sheet released by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and environment ministry in 2018, around 43% of manufactured plastics are used for packaging purpose and most are of singleuse.