Page 46 - Plastics News October 2020

CPCB issues show cause notices to Flipkart and Patanjali Peya

(Protection) Act, 1986. The two companies have been
asked to shut down operations and pay environment
compensation for non-compliance of provisions of
Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2018.
The news was first reported by PTI. CPCB said, “These
companies were issued show cause notices as they have
not provided information for evidence-based
assessment of the implementation of an action plan for
fulfilment of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
liability.” This development comes after the tribunal's
latest direction wherein the CPCB was asked to take
necessary steps and file an action-taken report against
ecommerce companies that use excess plastic for
he Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has told
packaging material. NGT had already expressed its
Tthe NGT that it has issued show cause notices for
closure of operations to Flipkart and Patanjali Peya as displeasure after hearing a petition filed by sixteen-
year-old Aditya Dubey in 2019 alleging that the excessive
they are not registered with it and have not responded to
use of single-use plastic packaging material has posed a
its communications on the matter. The Central Pollution
serious challenge to the environment. CPCP has further
Control Board (CPCB) has issued show cause notices to
mentioned in the report that four firms Hindustan Coca-
Flipkart and Patanjali Peya for the closure of their
operation and levying environment compensation. In the Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd, Pepsico India Holding Pvt Ltd,
Bisleri International Pvt Ltd, and Ms NourishCo
report, CPCB said on October 8 that the closure notices
Beverages Ltd have been granted registration by CPCB.
have been issued under Section 5 of the Environment

Tirupathi Municipal Corporation wins battle against Plastic waste
unicipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) has been
M successful in reducing the Plastic waste following
the a ban on plastic carry bags less than 40 microns of
thickness for three years, saving Rs 50 lakh in terms of
drainage maintenance cost in the city. The civic body
imposed a ban on use of plastic bags on October 2, 2017,
the Gandhi Jayanti. Since imposing a ban on use of
plastic material on Oct 2, 2017, the municipal
authorities have been able to bring down the use of
plastic by more than 90% It is saving Rs 50 lakh which it
had spent for clearing drains choked with plastic
material People too are voluntarily going for bio-
year, the set a target of 90 per cent reduction in plastic
degradable material like paper, cloth or jute bags. Since
usage and achieved it. Owing to official pressure and
the ban on plastic bags and other material, the
awareness, consumers too began environment-friendly
municipal authorities held consultations with
bags before imposing the ban, MCT used to spend lakhs
stakeholders and suggested alternative material like
of rupees to clear drainage lines of plastic waste.
paper, cloth or jute bags by shop owners as well as
Following the ban, the drainage overflow problems have
people. They imposed huge fines on those selling plastic
come down drastically. According to sanitation officials,
bags less than 40 micron and conducted raids often.
the plastic waste retrieved from sewage lines has
Thus, they succeeded in implementing the initiative of
reduced by five tonne a day in the last three years.
PWM by 70 per cent in the first year itself. In the second

October 2020 46 Plastics News