Page 36 - Plastics News February 2023

FEATURE

A total of 2.26 million tonnes of plastic packaging has been covered under
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for the year 2022-23

on 16th February 2022. tions, facilitating credit availability and
access, promoting availability and
The Guidelines stipulated mandatory adoption of alternatives, and building
targets on EPR, recycling of plastic capacities of MSMEs.
packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic
packaging and use of recycled plastic Further, in order to spur innovation
content. The Guidelines also mandat- in the area of development of eco-
ed implementation of EPR on plastic alternatives, MoEFCC had organized
packaging through a centralized online an India Plastic Challenge Hackathon,
portal developed by CPCB in order to 2021. Two innovative solutions for
ensure ease of doing business while eco-alternatives were awarded un-
complying with statutory obligations. der the Hackathon viz. a rigid packag-
ing material made from rice stubble,
From around 310 Producers, Import-
n line with the clarion call given by ers and Brand Owners (PIBOs) reg- which substitutes for thermocol and
IPrime Minister Shri Narendra Modi istered for EPR, before the notifica- not only addresses plastic pollution
to phase out single use plastics, the tion of the EPR Guidelines on 16th but will also help in reducing the pol-
Central Government and State Gov- February 2022, the number of PIBOs lution caused by burning of rice stub-
ernments have been taking resolute registered on the centralized EPR ble and a flexible packaging film made
steps for elimination of single use portal on plastic packaging has gone from sea weeds to be used for wrap-
plastics. A defining step to curb pol- up to around 5400 PIBOs, till date. ping and carry bag applications
lution caused by littered and un-man- Significantly, a total plastic packaging State Governments have been taking
aged plastic waste was taken on 1st of 2.26 million tonnes has been cov- initiatives in promotion of eco-alter-
July 2022, when the ban was imposed ered under EPR for the year 2022-23. natives to banned single use plastic
on identified single use plastic items, In order to contrast, the total plastic items. These initiatives are in line with
which have high littering potential and waste generated in the country during the Lifestyle For Environment (LiFE)
low utility, throughout the country.
the year 2019-20 is around 3.4 million mission. Some states have set up
The strategy adopted by the Ministry tonnes. “Bartan Bhandars” at village panchay-
of Environment, Forest and Climate Rapid penetration of alternatives is at levels for use in events in place of
Change (MoEFCC), Government of a key for successful implementation banned single use plastic cutlery pro-
India, for tackling unmanaged and lit- of the ban on identified single use moting reuse cutlery rather than using
tered plastic waste has two pillars plastic items. In order to provide as- disposable cutlery. Self Help Groups
viz. enforcement of ban on identified sistance to MSME enterprises transi- have been mobilized in the states to
single use plastic items, which can- tioning away from single use plastic stitch cloth bags and in some cases
not be collected, and implementation items to eco-alternatives Ministry of cloth bag vending machines have been
extended producer responsibility on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises set up in market places. Some State
plastic packaging. In this regard, earli- has made provisions in their ongoing Governments have taken up volun-
er MoEFCC had brought out notifica- schemes. Steps are also being taken tary measures to make government
tion to ban identified single use plastic to promote manufacturing of alterna- offices and market places single use
on 12th August 2021 and also notified tives to banned single use plastic items plastic free.
Guidelines on Extended Producer Re- by bringing in technology and innova-
sponsibility (EPR) for Plastic Packaging

38 PLASTICS NEWS February 2023