With the implementation of the nationwide ban on use of single-use plastics (SUP), inspections and seizures were conducted in key commercial areas in the city today.
In a notification by the Union environment ministry issued in February, all states and Union territories (UTs) were directed to phase out SUP items in a planned manner by July 1, 2022.
The identified banned 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 less than 100 microns, and stirrers.
The East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner’s office informed that many establishments have started using paper bags as a better alternative after the spot inspections and seizures were conducted by the State Pollution Control Board, Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and the Hima Mylliem.
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry too had issued an advisory to states and union territories before the World Environment Day, to phase out single-use plastic and contribute to improve the environment under the overarching mandate of “Clean and Green”.
The Ministry said states and UTs have been asked to take up a range of activities to make the country free of SUP.
The activities will include large-scale cleaning and ‘plogging’ drives with special emphasis on plastic waste collection, as well as large-scale tree plantation drives with participation of all citizens – students, voluntary organisations, self-help groups, local NGOs/CSOs, NSS and NCC cadets, RWAs, market associations and corporate entities among others.
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 currently being implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, plastic-waste management, including elimination of SUP, is a crucial area of focus.
Given the dual mandate of the World Environment Day and India’s committed ban of SUP, the ministry has issued a detailed advisory to states and UTs to take up a range of activities to fulfil these mandates.
It also states that urban local bodies will need to identify SUP ‘hotspots’ and eliminate them, while parallely leveraging the support of the state pollution control boards and forming special enforcement squads, conducting surprise inspections and imposing heavy fines and penalties on defaulters for enforcing SUP bans.
As per the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021, the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than 75 microns (75 µ i.e. 0.075 mm in thickness) has been banned with effect from 30th September, 2021 as opposed to 50 microns recommended earlier under PWM Rules, 2016, the ministry said.
