Page 66 - Plastics News October 2019

IN THE NEWS

Plastic ban comes into force in CII seeks exemption on multiple
Odisha SUP items

an on single-use plastic came into effect in all urban n industry body has sought exemption of several
Bareas of Odisha on October 2, on the occasion of 150th Aplastic products from the proposed list of items
birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Manufacture, sale, soon to be banned under single-use plastics and has also
trade, import, storage, transportation and distribution DVNHG IRU FODULÀFDWLRQ RQ ZKDW GRHV 683 HQWDLO &,, KDV
RI VLQJOH XVH SODVWLFV DUH SURKLELWHG DV SHU D QRWLÀFDWLRQ said that the upcoming banned item list should exclude
issued by Odisha Forest and Environment Department on various products such as those used in packaging as it is
6HSWHPEHU DQ RIÀFLDO VDLG 7KH EDQ LV LPSRVHG RQ integral to the packaging and manufacturing process,
as there are no alternatives. The industry body has also
asked for exemption of sachets as the same will hamper
day to day consumption of common man as many FMCG
companies deploy sachet packaging for items such
as shampoo etc “The proposed ban has created an
existential crisis for multiple sectors of Indian industry,”
Confederation of Indian Industry said, the news channel
reported. Also, the consumers will also shoulder the
burden of transition as Research and Development costs
and capex required for the alternative will mean the
costs will be shared by the customers as well, CII added.
As of now, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
polythene carry bags of any shape, thickness and size curated list of 12 items that are to be banned. These
(excluding compostable), Polyethylene Terephthalate items include thin carry bags, non-woven carry bags,
(Pet/Pete) bottles of less than 200 ml capacity, he small wrapping, straws, plastic cups, etc. Earlier, the
said. According to the notification, the government Packaging Association for Clean Environment (PACE)
has prohibited the use of polythene carry bags of any DQG WKH $OO ,QGLD $VVRFLDWLRQ RI 1DWXUDO 0LQHUDO :DWHU
shape, thickness and size (excluding compostable), Industries requested the government to consider
polyethylene terephthalate (pet/pete) bottles of less exclusion of PET water bottles of 200 ml and less, from
than 200 ml capacity, single-use disposable cutleries made WKH SURSRVHG OLVW DV WKH 3(7 ERWWOHV DUH UHF\FODEOH
of thermocol (polystyrene), polyurethane and the likes. according to the two unions. The associations also said
Earlier, the state government had imposed a ban on single- that there is no feasible alternative as of yet to PET
use plastic in six cities –Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur,
Rourkela, Sambalpur and Puri — from October 2, last year.
“The state government has now decided to prohibit single-
use plastic in the remaining municipal limits and municipal
FRUSRUDWLRQV LQ WKH VWDWH µ VDLG WKH QRWLÀFDWLRQ ,W VDLG
that vendors shall not be allowed to use polythene sheets
of less than 50 micron thickness for storing, transporting,
dispensing or packaging of any article or commodity or
food items, consumables, packaging of milk and milk
products and edible oil in sealed manner. This excludes any bottles as paper bottles and aluminium are costlier
plastic carrying and transporting garbage and containers alternatives. The industry representatives have also
like cup for milk products, including curd, ice-creams ruled out glass owing to its huge carbon footprint. Prime
etc, polythene packing materials used in healthcare Minister Narendra Modi, who has set the goal to make
sector like medicines, blood transportation bags, syringes, India free of single-use plastics by 2022, had appealed
sample and specimen bags, resalable bags, and medical to the nation to stop the use of single-use plastic in his
LQVWUXPHQWV DQG DFFHVVRULHV WKH QRWLÀFDWLRQ VDLG speech on India’s Independence Day.

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