Page 24 - Plastics News March 2018

FeAtures

After announcing the ban on all plastic bags, irrespective Offenders will be fined Rs 5,000 and Rs10,000 respectively
of their thickness and disposable cutlery items made of for first and second time offence, respectively. A third-
plastic and thermocol, the state government on Friday time offender will be fined Rs 25,000 and three-months
March 17 said they have also decided to ban non-woven imprisonment. The government has also decided to
polypropylene bags, plastic sheets, plastic pouches and all empower elected representatives and non-government
kinds of plastic films in Maharashtra. However, plastic used organisations (NGOs) to file complain against violation
for packing and packaging products has been exempted of the ban to the police, he added. In urban areas, the
from the ban. Kadam said the ban will be implemented ban is going to be implemented by the municipal bodies,
from March 18, at the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa, while in rural areas it will be implemented by the district
the beginning of the new year, according to the Hindu administration.
calender. However, officials are unsure if they will be able Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray, who, according to
to issue a notification to this effect immediately or in the Kadam has played important role in bringing the ban,
next two days. “The final notification on the ban is not said earlier the focus of the ban was only on sale and
ready yet. We are still working on finalising the modalities. distribution of plastic bags below 50 microns. This time,
Thus, won’t be able to say that the notification will be the government has brought the ban of manufacturing of
issued by March 18,” a senior official from the environment plastic bags and other items. “People won’t use plastic
department said.
bags if they are not available at the first place,” he said.
With the decision, manufacturing, use, storing, distribution, While this seems to a bit absurd for (AIPMA) All India
wholesale and retail sale, import and transportation of all Plastics Manufacturers Association that is not happy with
kinds of plastic bags (with or without handle), disposable the developments. According to Manufacturers, ban on
cutlery items made of plastic and thermocol — plates,
cups, glass, bowls, forks, spoons, straw, non-woven
polypropylene bags, plastic sheets, plastic pouches and all
kinds of plastic films have been banned across the state,
said the environment minister. The administration is yet
to decide what would be banned in the next phases. The
government has also formed an empowered committee
headed by environment minister that would further decide
what other items could be banned or taken up for banning
in a phased manner. Plastics is not a solution but this is a failure on the part
of waste management. “Why don’t we try to overcome
An environment department official said they are yet to
take a decision on plastic containers that are used for litter? The problem lies in littering and not Plastics.”
food parcels and other services. It will be clear when the Ravi Jashnani, president Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturers
notification is issued, he said. The government has also Association said they will try to convince the government to
decided to exempt plastic being used as integral part work on alternatives instead of banning the manufacturing.
for packaging of a product as well as that being used “We are not very hopeful that the government will listen
for medicines, solid waste management and agriculture to us. In the case the last option left with us is to go
products. It also means garbage bags will not be banned. to the court,” Jashnani said. There are around 10,000
It has exempted all plastic sheets and covers being used manufacturing units that are going to be affected with
in plant nurseries, milk pouches of more than 50 microns the move that includes, manufacturing, printing and other
and PET bottles. The manufacturers of PET bottles have related units.
been asked to set up recycling units in the next three With the government determined to act, would this act
months and start a deposit scheme to promote recollection of Plastic Ban be sensible and achieve the government
of bottles.
objectives remains to be seen?

Plastics News March 2018 24