On 13 August 2021 , the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India notified by the Gazette of India some changes in the plastic waste management rules enacted by the Ministry of Environment , Forest and Climate Change . The changes were in many cases clarifications of nomenclature and expressions – at best a technical proof reading exercise of the PWM rules originally issued in 2016 and amended several times now . I will resist a critique at this time and attempt to first plainly set out the changes in this year ’ s amendment .

The amendment ‘ prohibits identified single use plastic items which have low utility and high littering potential by 2022 .’

Further , ‘ the manufacture , import , stocking , distribution , sale and use of following single-use plastic , including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene , commodities shall be prohibited with effect from the 1st July , 2022 – ear buds with plastic sticks , plastic sticks for balloons , plastic flags , candy sticks , ice-cream sticks , polystyrene [ Thermocol ] for decoration ;

‘ plates , cups , glasses , cutlery such as forks , spoons , knives , straw , trays , wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes , invitation cards , and cigarette packets , plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron , stirrers .

‘ In order to stop littering due to light weight plastic carry bags , with effect from 30th September , 2021 , the thickness of plastic carry bags has been increased from 50 microns to 75 microns and to 120 microns with effect from the 31st December , 2022 . This will also allow reuse of plastic carry due to increase in thickness .

‘ The plastic packaging waste , which is not covered under the phase out of identified single use plastic items , shall be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable way through the Extended Producer Responsibility of the Producer , Importer and Brand owner ( PIBO ), as per Plastic Waste Management Rules , 2016 .’

‘ The waste management infrastructure in the States / UTs is being strengthened through the Swachh Bharat Mission . The following steps have also been taken to strengthen implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules , 2016 and also to reduce the use of identified single use plastic items :( i ) the States / UTs have been requested to constitute a Special Task Force for elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules , 2016 . A National Level Taskforce has also been constituted by the Ministry for taking coordinated efforts to eliminate identified single use plastic items and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules , 2016 .

‘ The State / UT Governments and concerned Central Ministries / Departments have also been requested to develop a comprehensive action plan for elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules , 2016 , and its implementation in a time bound manner . Directions under Section 5 of Environment ( Protection ) Act , 1986 , have been issued to all States / Union Territories inter alia for setting up for institutional mechanism for strengthening enforcement of Plastic Waste Management ( PWM ) Rules , 2016 .

‘ The Government has also been taking measures for awareness generation towards elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules , 2016 . A two month long Awareness Campaign of Single Use Plastic 2021 has been organized . The Ministry has also organized pan India essay writing competition on the theme for spreading awareness amongst school students in the country .

‘ To encourage innovation in development of alternatives to identified single use plastic items and digital solutions to plastic waste management , the India Plastic Challenge – Hackathon 2021 , has been organized for students of Higher Educational Institutions and startups recognized under Startup India Initiative .’

– Naresh Khanna , editor @ ippgroup . in z Guidelines for EPR given legal force

‘ For effective implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility the Guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility being brought out have been given legal force through Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules , 2021 . . . .’

25 August 2021 Packaging South Asia

Edition - 8 | Page 3

z Government prohibits some single use plastic items by 2022

India Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules , 2021