Page 72 - Plastics News July 2019

iN the News

Madras HC upholds ban on single- NGT directs CPCB to strictly

use plastic products implement ban on import of
plastic waste
he Madras High Court on Thursday upheld a Tamil
TNadu government order banning use of throwaway
plastic but lamented its poor implementation, saying he NGT has directed the
plastic products were still freely available. Dismissing a TCentral Pollution Control
batch of PILs from Chennai Non-Wovens Private Limited Board to strictly implement
and 29 others, a bench of justices R Subbiah and Krishnan the ban on import of plastic
Ramasamy ordered the state government to stop supplying waste in the country as
‘Aavin’ brand milk in it is hazardous for the
plastic packets and environment. A bench
use bottles or find any headed by NGT Chairperson
other means. The PILs Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel
had sought to quash said local bodies have to
the June 25, 2018 encourage the use of plastic
government order of waste for road construction
the state Environment or energy recovery or waste
and Forest Department to oil. A bench headed by Adarsh Kumar Goel,
and a consequential chairperson, NGT, said, “local bodies to encourage the
letter of December 8, use of plastic waste for road construction or waste on
2018 in so far as it banned non-woven polypropylene energy etc.” The bench said, “Every producer or brand
carry bags. The PILs had also sought a direction to owner is required to make application for registration
the government to not interfere with the petitioners’ or for renewal of registration and such registration is
manufacturing, storing, supplying, trading of the products. done as per checklist issued by the CPCB. Extended
The ban on single-use plastic in the state came into force producer responsibility is applicable and is required to
on January 1 this year. The bench in its 90-page order be followed by producers, importers and brand owners
observed that even though the government had banned as per applicable guidelines.” The panel also directed
single-use plastic products to make the environment CPCB to take action ensuring that the recommendations
plastic-free, “we feel that the ban is neither effective are completely implemented as per the plastic waste
nor complete.” In spite of the ban, one-time throwaway management rules. “The CPCB may furnish a further
plastics were freely made available for use, it said, adding action taken report in the matter to this tribunal within
the order can, therefore, be construed to remain only two months by e-mail,” the bench said while hearing
on paper. Unless hefty fines were imposed on suppliers of a plea. The plea was filed by Amit Jain alleging that
or stockists, the ban cannot be effective or complete, cheap waste paper and road sweep waste is imported
the bench said. “We, therefore, direct the government
to implement the banning of all multi-layered plastic to this country from US, Europe, etc. and it is being
wrappers and covers, which are meant for one-time burnt which is causing land and air pollution. CPCB
use and throwaway, to make the ban effective and informed the tribunal that plastic waste import needs
meaningful,” it said. Referring to the exemption given to be restricted as the hazardous waste generated in
for supplying milk, it said the government can explore the country is to the extent of 26,000 tons a day and
use of bottles or any other means instead of the plastic the same is not being properly managed. The CPCB
cover. The state should promote alternative products such had earlier approached the National Green Tribunal
as cloth or jute bags for being used by one and all in the (NGT) to enforce the implementation of plastic waste
larger interest of protecting the environment from being management rules by non-compliant states. On March
hampered. Dwelling at length on the harmful effects of 12, 2019, the NGT ordered all of them to ensure that
plastics on the environment and marine and domestic reports are furnished to the CPCB by April 30, 2019.
animals, the court said the state was duty-bound to Failure is to be punished with a penalty of Rs 1 crore
enforce certain stringent measures to protect the ecology. per month, to be paid to the CPCB, the NGT said.

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