Page 9 - Plastics News March 2019

FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN

The Environmental Bandwagon

he Centre has amended the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary
TMovement) Rules, 2016 to include prohibition on import of solid plastic waste even in
special economic zones (SEZ) and by export-oriented units (EOU). The Ministry of Environment
amended the rules by an order to strengthen the implementation of environmentally sound
management of hazardous waste in the country. According to officials the amendment has
been done keeping into consideration the 'Ease of Doing Business' and boosting 'Make in India'
initiative by simplifying the procedures under the Rules, while at the same time upholding
the principles of sustainable development and ensuring minimal impact on the environment.
However, an organisation called the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Smriti Manch (PDUSM) has
claimed India’s imports of plastic scraps from China, Japan, Italy and Malawi for recycling
and imports of PET bottle scrap and flakes has quadrupled. While the government does not
have specific data and have not yet agreed to the said rise in plastics waste as claimed by
the organization, one wonders about the credibility of this report; for there is already too
much of propaganda against Plastics.

India recycles a higher percentage of plastic waste than other (richer) countries and perhaps Mr. Rajiv B.Tolat
there is further scope of improvement in recycling plastics. India generates around 25,940
tonnes of plastic waste every day. According to a government study 56% of plastic waste
produced in India is recycled. The process of collecting and separating plastic waste is largely
an informal sector activity, providing employment to many in the country

AIPMA plays active role in helping and reducing Plastic waste across the country. Plastic
manufacturers had set up a “fund” with an initial corpus of Rs 1 million to do a viability gap
funding and get low-value waste cleared from streets for recycling. The aim of this fund is
to demonstrate the government about the possibility of recycling.

Technology is also providing some alternatives to recycling. There are many ways to promote
recycling and conversion of Plastic waste to fuel is gaining importance. Scientists say they have
successfully converted discarded plastic into hydrogen fuel, which in turn could be used to run
cars. Though it might take some time for commercial purpose there is a solution available.

Also using plastic waste in making roads is gaining much acceptance across the country and
there are many examples available. India has built over one lakh kilometres of roads in at
least 11 states using discarded plastic.

With the system in place India can never become hub of Plastic waste as being said in certain
sections of the media So, rest assured and let’s not jump on to the environmental bandwagon.

Rajiv B.Tolat
Hon. Editor
publication@aipma.net

9 March 2019 Plastics News