Page 51 - Plastics News March 2021

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[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का राजपत्र : असाधारण 5
Whereas, a preliminary analysis of the State level action on restriction/prohibition of plastic carry bags and
some single-use plastic items suggests that many challenges have been faced in the implementation of these regulatory
provisions. However, some States have reportedly achieved considerable success.
Whereas, considering the high environmental costs associated with management of single-use plastics,
particularly the adverse effect on marine environment, and the need for a definitive action supplementing the initiative
undertaken by various States/UTs to combat plastic pollution, it is proposed that a prohibition on the manufacture,
use, sale, import and handling of some of the single-use plastic items may be imposed on a pan India basis.
Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by sections 6, 8 and 25 of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), read with clause (d) of sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the said Environment (Protection)
Rules, 1986 the Central Government hereby publishes this draft notification as required under sub-rule 3 of rule 5 of
the said Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, which shall on and from the date of its final publication make the
following amendments in the said notification, namely:—
1. (1) These rules may be called Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the said rules, in Rule 2(1), after the word Importers, the word, ―brand-owner‖, “plastic
waste processor (recycler, co-processor, etc.)‖ shall be inserted.
3. In the said rules, in rule 3,
i. after clause (n), the following clause shall be inserted namely :-
―(na) Non-woven plastic bag-Non-woven plastic bag is made up of sheet or web structured fabric
of entangled fibers or filaments (and by perforating films) bonded together by mechanical or
thermal or chemical means. The Non-woven fabric is a flat or tufted porous sheet that is made
directly from fibres, molten plastic or plastic films.‖
after clause (q), the following clause shall be inserted namely: -
―(qa) Plastic Waste Processing - means any process by which plastic waste is handled for the purpose
of reuse, recycling, co-processing or transformation into new products.
iii. after clause (v), the following clause shall be inserted namely: -
―(va) Single-use plastic item
-is a plastic commodity intended to be used once for the same purpose before being dispose of or
recycled.‖
iv. after clause (v), the following clause shall be inserted namely: -
(vb) Thermoset plastic- is a plastic which becomes irreversibly rigid when heated, and hence cannot be
remoulded into desired shape.
v. after clause (vb), the following clause shall be inserted namely: -
(vc) Thermoplastic – is a plastic which softens on heating and can be moulded into desired
shape.
4. In the said rules, in rule 4, -
i. In sub-rule (1) clause (c), the word ‗fifty‘ may be read as ‗one hundred and twenty
(120) with effect from 30.9.2021‘
ii. In sub-rule (1) clause (h), after the words, ―carry bags‖, the words, ―and commodities‖
is inserted.
iii. In sub-rule (1) clause (h), after the words, ―compostable plastic carry bags‖, the word,
―and/or commodities‖ is inserted.
iv. After sub-rule (1) clause (i), following clause shall be inserted:
j. Each sheet of non-woven plastic carry bag shall not be less than 60 (GSM per square meter) or
240 microns in thickness with effect from 30.9.2021.
5. In the said rules, in rule 4, following sub-rule shall be inserted:

51 March 2021 Plastics News