Page 13 - Plastics News October 2019

FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN

We Stand Vindicated

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APresident-Shri Jagat Killawala and further I take this opportunity to thank the Managing
Committee for having me continue for yet another term as the Editor.
Talking about the current scenario, as I said in the last issue I would like to reiterate the point
that rather than any move to impose a ban, there should also be equal emphasis on recycling
and waste management. The Plastics Industry should be given a timeline for transition via tax
rebates and by keeping certain eco-friendly materials tax-free.
The PM has rightly called back the blanket ban on Plastics and instead made it clear that it
never meant to ban single-use plastics (SUP), but insisted on raising awareness and pushing
for recycling.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) directed all states and
Union territories (UTs) that there would not be any immediate ban on plastic items. Instead,
the ministry asked state urban departments and urban local bodies to strengthen plastic
waste management by improvising on existing waste management systems. This can be done
by investing heavily in improving source segregation of waste and supporting end-to-end
segregation of waste to strengthen processing, said the Centre.
The ministry gave states the freedom to look into introducing prohibitive action on SUP by Mr. Rajiv B.Tolat
identifying a clear list of products that need to be targeted. This majorly includes single-use
disposable cutlery and carry bags.
It asked states / UTs to play a key role in promoting eco-friendly alternatives, projects that
look into upscaling or recycling single-use plastics and small-scale or micro enterprises.
Additionally, states must focus on behavioural change and raising awareness.
The government should also come clear on EPR and further should focus on innovation in
designs that incorporate waste reduction. Better waste management systems with focus on
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such as Panaji, Trichy, Mysuru, Panchgani, Vengurla, Karjat, Muzaffarpur that have invested in
effective dry waste management. In these cities, dry waste is not a challenge, it is a resource.
This should be implemented across the country collectively.
The government must ensure that plastic waste is used in road making across the country
so that it not only has long life sustainable roads but also have reduced cost (of bitumen) in
road laying.
India has to strengthen its rules for producers and enforce effective systems of EPR. To begin
with, the government should invest money in encouraging the setting up of ventures that
provide sustainable products as an alternative to current non-recyclable products. It should
accelerate business-driven innovations and help scale circular economies that focus on systemic
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The Plastic industry, as a responsible as ever, is always ready to help the government in their
endeavors to reduce the litter and serve the global cause.

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

13 October 2019 Plastics News