Page 26 - Plastics News August 2018

FEATURES

Maharashtra government set to roll out a buyback scheme

he Maharashtra government is set to roll out a buyback ,V WKHUH DQ\ RWKHU PHFKDQLVP WR KROG ÀUPV
Tscheme for waste Plastic PET bottles and milk pouches. OLDEOH"
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depository system, joining 40 other nations. The state government has directed FMCG companies to
create an escrow account or reserve fund of Rs 25,000 per
Soon, returning an empty milk pouch could fetch one 50
paise. lakh of multi-layered plastic packets and tetra packs under
the supervision of the pollution control board to collect,
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Recycle and reuse packs that litter public places.
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After making the purchase the consumer will have to go
back to the same vendor or shopkeeper with the milk
pouches and pet bottles and get a refund. A consumer must
return a PET bottle or pouch to claim the deposit. If caught
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penalised. Since such microlevel. Vigilance by authorities
is unfeasible, the practical aim of the buyback scheme
is to incentivise the return of plastic bottles/pouches,
which will be of value, at least to agents like ragpickers.
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Like some other states, one time use plastic and thermocol
items have been banned under the Maharashtra Plastic & It doesn’t exist anywhere else in India. Overseas, it is
ThermocolProducts Act, 2018. But the Act also prescribes being implemented in at least 40 countries, including the
US, Germany and Norway (where 97% of PET is recycled).
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for PET bottles and milk pouches. Under it, manufacturers The United Kingdom plans to launch such a scheme soon.
should charge a refundable amount when a person buys a To what products does the scheme apply in
bottled or pouched product. The deposit will be refunded PDKDUDVKWUD"
once the bottle is deposited with the retailer or with As of now, it is meant for PET (polyethylene terephthalate)
reverse-vending machines. bottles and milk pouches. The government has asked
:KR EHDUV WKH FRVW" retailers to examine a similar depository mechanism for
The scheme puts the onus of collecting and recycling retail packaging as well.
bottles and pouches on manufacturers. In fact, recycling :KDW ZLOO WKH UHF\FOHG SODVWLF EH XVHG IRU"
was made a manufacturing licence norm in the Plastic The recycled plastic will be used for Industrial fuel, road-
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submit designs on how they propose to implement the GU\ ÀW MHUVH\V WR QDPH D IHZ
scheme. Also, the onus of tying up with recyclers is on Earlier, while announcing the ban of plastic bags, straws
manufacturers. Top beverage-makers, including Coca- and disposable plastic cutlery, the Maharashtra government
Cola, PepsiCo and Bisleri, have begun printing a buyback decided to exclude milk pouches and pet bottles (for soft
value on PET bottles sold in Maharashtra to comply with drinks). later government asked the consumers to pay 50
the new regulations.
paisa more on milk pouches and Re 1 extra on pet bottles.

Plastics News August 2018 26