Page 66 - Plastcs News January 2019

in the news

Centre government sets up expert Don't seize unlisted plastic items,

panel to study, define single use says Madras High Court
plastic

division bench of the Madras High Court has directed
A concerned government authorities not to confiscate
n light of plastic
Ibans that led to the the plastic items which are not listed in the schedule of
shuttering of several prohibited ones, as published in a G.O. dated June 25,
plastic units, in turn 2018. The bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Krishnan
leading to loss of jobs in Ramaswamy gave them direction while passing orders on
Maharashtra and other a batch of PIL petitions from the affected traders. Except
states, the Central the 14 items listed in the GO, other plastic items should
government has decided not be seized, the bench said and added that the traders
to constitute an expert should not be coerced. The Tamil Nadu government has
committee under the banned a set of disposable plastic products since January
chairmanship of scientist 1 and the officials are conducting surprise checks and
Dr Raghunath Mashelkar. seizing the banned single-use plastic items from the
It will study the single use plastic and submit its report traders.
in the next two months.According to the notification The traders have been alleging that the officials,
issued by the Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers, “Plastic confused over the G.O, indiscriminately confiscated
has been contributing significantly towards the growth all plastic items which are not listed in the annexure
of the petrochemical sector. The use of plastic is an of the June 25 G.O. Terming the state government's
environmental concern. So many state governments have plastic ban as 'corporates friendly', the traders said the
imposed the ban on the single use plastic. However, there plastic that they were using before the ban shall be
is a difference of opinion over the single use plastic. effectively recycled; whereas the single-use plastic used
To bring clarity, the government has decided to constitute
the expert’s committee.”The proposed committee
will define the single use plastic and submit its report
subsequently. The expert committee will be headed by
scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, president of Global
Research Alliance (GRA), Pune, while Prof Ashok Misra from
Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Dr R Vasudevan from
Thiagarajar College Of Engineering, Madurai, among others
will be members of this committee. The committee can also
co-opt members from plastic industry and other experts if
required.Plastic trader Rajesh Malde welcomed the move,
but stated, “Till the committee submits its report, we
should be allowed to use plastic thicker than 50 micron.” by the corporates in packing edible items is harmful to
The Maharashtra government on March 23, 2018, banned the environment. According to data compiled by the
the manufacture, usage, sale, transport, distribution, associations of plastic manufacturers, the ban is likely to
wholesale and retail sale and storage, import of plastic cause a loss of livelihood for two lakh persons employed
bags with or without handle, and disposable products made by plastic manufacturing companies in various parts
out of plastic and thermocol. The government enforced of the State. “The State government’s decision to ban
the ban with immediate effect. Manufacturers across the plastics has caused a dip in revenue of 50% in November,
state had opposed the government’s plan to ban plastic when compared to the same period last year,” said
bags in the state urging the state to work with them G. Sankaran, president of Tamil Nadu, Pondy Plastic
towards plastic waste management instead. Association. The Chennai Corporation should adopt
scientific management of plastic waste,” he said.

Plastics News Januar y 2019 6668