Page 73 - Plastics News November 2018

in the news

Centre likely to ban plastic across Bhubaneswar civic body intensify

country by 2022 awareness drive against Plastics

he Central government might introduce a pan-India he Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC
Tban on plastic by 2022, officials from the Union Ministry Twill intensify awareness drive to encourage
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) people not to use plastic, said Srimanta Mishra,
have said. In a meeting with State government officials deputy commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal
this week, Anil Kumar Jain, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC, Corporation."The campaign aimed at making the
expressed interest in replicating Maharashtra’s model capital city free from plastic or polythene speaks about
across the country by 2022, senior officials said.States bringing own tiffin boxes, bottles and bags to minimise
such as Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, the burden of plastic on the earth," said the officer. It
Madhya Pradesh have banned plastic items. However, is seen that cattle chew the polythene or plastic along
with their food. Burning of polythene is also causing
many health hazards.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will roll
out a tableau in the city and issue advertisements in
film theatres to sensitise people about plastic ban It
has started a public campaign in Odia language against
plastic use by placing hoardings at prime locations to
make people aware about the issue.It will intensify
awareness drive to encourage people not to use plastic,
said Srimanta Mishra, deputy commissioner of the BMC.
He said two radio jingles have been aired through
the absence of a uniform policy has put in doubt the
implementation of the ban in other States. Anil Kumar three FM stations to take the message to more people.
Polythene is also causing choking of drains and urban
Diggikar, Environment Secretary, said, “He [Mr. Jain] flooding, said Mishra.The urban body is also planning
conveyed to us the Central government’s keen interest in to distribute leaflets with a message on how to build
replicating Maharashtra’s model for a nationwide policy a plastic-free city and facts about the ill-effects of
by 2022. Our policy’s key aspects are forward looking as polythene or plastic, legal provisions to ban plastic and
opposed to policies in developed States like Gujarat. the provisions to restrict, regulate and ban the use of

The Centre has appreciated the State’s introduction of
the principle of Extended Producer’s Responsibility (EPR)
to provide required finances to establish plastic collection
centres. Mr. Diggikar said, “Maharashtra’s plastic policy
aims to transform the plastic industry while considering
key aspects such as redesigned products, creation of
niche markets for manufacturers, new business models,
a circular economy around waste management and
processing and moving away from single-use plastic
to products that have a longer life. The policy aims to
put a greater onus on industry to manage plastic waste plastic. Four types of hoardings are already placed in
and pollution.” The MoEFCC had earlier put in place a eight locations and will multiply more to be more visible
foundation for the national policy by involving India Inc. across the city, said the officer, adding, "We will screen
to finalise the blueprint of a new policy on plastic, which video clips in film theatres on ban of plastic very soon
could be merged with the Centre’s flagship Make in India so that the filmgoers will be educated on the topic and
and Smart Cities schemes. spread the message in the society."

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75 November 2018 Plastics News