Aafrin Kidwai 
Representational image by FLY:D on Unsplash
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr Ashwini Kumar Choubey informed Lok Sabha about the enforcement of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, including a ban on identified single-use plastic (SUP) items, which became effective from 1st July 2022.
Mr Chaubey said that States and Union territories have been asked to undertake regular enforcement drives to implement a ban on identified SUP items and on plastic carry bags having a thickness of less than one hundred twenty microns, covering fruit and vegetable markets, wholesale markets, local markets, flower vendors, units manufacturing plastic carry bags, etc. States and UTs have also been asked to undertake random checking at border checkpoints to stop the inter-state movement of banned SUP items.
A month-long pan-India enforcement campaign was undertaken for the implementation of the ban on identified single-use plastic items from 1st to 31st July 2022. Special pan India enforcement drives were also undertaken from October to December, 2022 by Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Boards, and Pollution Control Committees.
In the written reply it was stated that for effective monitoring of the ban on identified single-use plastic items and plastic waste management in the country, the following online platforms are in operation (a) National Dashboard for monitoring of comprehensive action plan implementation, (b) CPCB Monitoring Module for Compliance on Elimination of Single-Use Plastic, and (c) CPCB Grievance Redressal App.
The total number of registered plastic waste processors on the centralized EPR portal for plastic packaging is 1602. As per information available on the EPR portal, there are 47 registered plastic waste processors in Andhra Pradesh, of which 35 are registered as plastic waste recyclers. The total number of registered producers, importers, and brand owners on the centralized EPR portal for plastic packaging is 5000 with an EPR target of 22.37 Lakh TPA. Further, as per available information plastic waste management units are also created under Swachhh Bharat Mission (Grameen) as per scheme guidelines.
Disclaimer: This article is taken from a press release issued by the PIB.
