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THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Centre has defined a list of single-use plastic items that will are banned from 1st July 2022.The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of notified single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities are also prohibited with effect from the 1st July 2022. This article analyses the ban on single-use plastic for greater benefits and related concerns.

SINGLE-USE PLASTIC

ABOUT

It refers to plastic items that are used once and discarded.

HIGHEST SHARES OF PLASTIC MANUFACTURED AND USED

Single-use plastic has among the highest shares of plastic manufactured and used — from the packaging of items to bottles (shampoo, detergents, cosmetics), polythene bags, face masks, coffee cups, cling film, trash bags, food packaging etc.

MINDEROO FOUNDATION 2021 REPORT

• Accounts for a Third of all Plastic Produced Globally:

According to a 2021 report of the Minderoo Foundation, an Australian philanthropic organization, single-use plastics account for a third of all plastic produced globally, with 98% manufactured from fossil fuels.

• The Majority of Plastic Discarded:

Single-use plastic also accounts for the majority of plastic discarded – 130 million metric tonnes globally in 2019 — all of which is burned, buried in landfills or discarded directly into the environment.

• Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

On the current trajectory of production, it has been projected that single-use plastic could account for 5-10% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

• Data for India:

o   The report found that India features in the top 100 countries of single-use plastic waste generation – at rank 94 (the top three being Singapore, Australia and Oman).

o   With domestic production of 11.8 million metric tonnes annually, and import of 2.9 MMT, India’s net generation of single-use plastic waste is 5.6 MMT, and per capita, generation is 4 kg.

PLASTIC ITEMS TO BE BANNED:

• The items on which the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have announced a ban are earbuds; balloon sticks; candy and ice-cream sticks; cutlery items including plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, trays; sweet boxes; invitation cards; cigarette packs; PVC banners measuring under 100 microns; and polystyrene for decoration.
• The choice for the first set of single-use plastic items for the ban was based on the difficulty of collection, and therefore recycling. When plastic remains in the environment for long periods of time and does not decay, it turns into microplastics – first entering our food sources and then the human body, and this is extremely harmful.
• The largest share of single-use plastic is that of packaging – with as much as 95% of single-use belonging to this category – from toothpaste to shaving cream to frozen foods. The items chosen are of low value and of low turnover and are unlikely to have a big economic impact, but can be a great contributing factor in reducing environmental pollution.
• The Ministry had already banned polythene bags under 75 microns in September 2021, expanding the limit from the earlier 50 microns. The ban will be extended to polythene bags under 120 microns from December 2022. The ban is being introduced in phases to give manufacturers time to shift to thicker polythene bags that are easier to recycle.
• As per the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, there is also a complete ban on sachets using plastic material for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE BAN IN INDIA

MONITORED BY

• The ban will be monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from the Centre and by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) that will report to the Centre regularly.

DIRECTIONS ISSUED

• Directions have been issued at national, state and local levels — for example, to all petrochemical industries — to not supply raw materials to industries engaged in the banned items.
• Directions have also been issued to SPCBs and Pollution Control Committees to modify or revoke consent to operate issued under the Air/Water Act to industries engaged in single-use plastic items.
• Local authorities have been directed to issue fresh commercial licenses with the condition that SUP items will not be sold on their premises, and existing commercial licences will be cancelled if they are found to be selling these items.

BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS

• Promoting Compostable and Biodegradable Plastics – The CPCB issued one-time certificates to 200 manufacturers of compostable plastic and the BIS passed standards for biodegradable plastic.

PENALTY

• Those found violating the ban can be penalised under the Environment Protection Act 1986 – which allows for imprisonment up to 5 years, a penalty up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
• Violators can also be asked to pay Environmental Damage Compensation by the SPCB.
• There are municipal laws on plastic waste, with their own penal codes.

WHY BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTIC – THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION

LONGEVITY

• The chemical bonds that make-up plastics are strong and made to last. The decomposition rate of plastic typically ranges from 500 to 600 years, depending on the type. This makes them one of the major environmental pollutants.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

• On the current trajectory of production, it has been projected that single-use plastic could account for 5-10% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

LANDFILL CREATION

• The country is witnessing a rise in landfill creation, especially across major cities like Delhi, Mumbai etc. The Ghazipur landfill in Delhi is soon expected to surpass the height of Qutub Minar. Single-use plastic has played a crucial role in enhancing the extent and height of such landfills. Plastics also keep on releasing harmful toxins in the adjacent areas polluting local soils and groundwater.

IMPACT ON HEALTH

• When plastic remains in the environment for long periods of time and does not decay, it turns into microplastics. This enters food sources and then the human body, causing severe health problems.

IMPACT ON THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM

• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world produces over 300 million tonnes of plastic every year, of which 14 million tonnes end up in the ocean. Marine species ingest or are entangled in plastic debris, which causes severe injuries and death. Microplastics are also a major contributor to marine pollution.

CHALLENGES IN PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

INPUT COST

• While manufacturers can use the same machine for 50- and 75-micron bags, the machinery will need to be upgraded for 120 microns. This will enhance the cost of production and put a greater burden on consumers. Similarly, many sellers fear that the alternatives will cost more than single-use plastic. The availability of substitutes might not be enough to meet the demand.

INTERNATIONAL LAWS

• There is currently no dedicated international instrument in place designed specifically to prevent plastic pollution throughout the entire plastics lifecycle.

EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION

• The success would rely largely on how effectively these norms are governed by the Central and State Pollution Control Boards. Their past records in plastic waste management are quite uninspiring. This is testified by frequent violations of plastic rules in major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru etc.
• The prevalence of corruption impedes the effective implementation of the ban and fails to create a substantial deterrence on violators. India’s rank has slipped six places to 86th among 180 countries in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2020.

INFORMAL WASTE COLLECTION

• Informalized Structure of Rag Pickers inhibits a strong linkage between waste collectors and processing plants.

THE ANALYSIS:

• India’s ban on select single-use plastic items comes into effect from 1^st July 2022. Although this is the country’s first attempt to regulate plastics available in the market, it will send out the wrong message if we say “India is banning single-use plastic”because even after July 1, the Indian market has continued to sell a gamut of single-use plastic items like soft drinks and mineral water bottles, all products sold in multi-layered packaging, among others. These plastic items perfectly fit the bill for single-use plastic going by the definition India has adopted. India defined single-use plastic in an August 2021 notification as “plastic item intended to be used once for the same purpose before being disposed of or recycled”.
• The government has tried to identify a handful of problematic plastics, which are low-utility and have high littering potential, from the bucket of single-use plastic commodity list and give the industry a reasonable time to phase them out. But many items have been left out. Plastic carry bags, for instance, will not be banned, they will still be available but the thickness has been regulated to be more than 75 microns till December 31, 2022, and more than 120 microns from December 31, 2022 onward. Similarly, banners made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), will still be available, but the thickness should not be less than 100 microns, the government mandated.
• The first announcement for phasing out single-use plastic was made on August 15, 2019 by the Prime Minister of India. Roughly two years later, in March 2021, the draft notification was released. The deadline for phase-out, proposed in the draft notification, was January 1, 2022. In the final notification released in August 2021, the deadline was extended to July 1, 2022 based on the request from the plastic industry and AIPMA.Still, the plastic industry, along with companies such as ParleAgro, Amul, Dabur, Pepsico and All India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), are seeking an extension of 6-12 months on the ban, citing issues like unavailability of alternatives, economic infeasibility and demand-supply gap, which will increase the cost of their product packaging. This clearly questions the intent of the industries to adopt the policy guidelines.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• An international instrument to manage plastic pollution can be formulated by parties of the UN Environment Assembly. Earlier this year, 124 parties of UNEA including India, signed a resolution to draw up an agreement. The agreement will make it legally binding for the signatories to address the full life of plastics from production to disposal, to end plastic pollution.
• The alternatives manufactured in India come with a premium price which may be unaffordable in most cases. This is primarily due to the scale at which the alternative market currently operates. The alternative market needs to be offered support through government initiatives to make its reach wider. However, caution is needed when promoting alternatives, so as not to create a fresh set of problems while fighting plastic pollution.
• The Government should also encourage the creation of sustainable bioplastics. These plastics can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into the water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. Recently, the BIS passed standards for biodegradable plastic.
• The Government should take proactive steps to ensure that the plastic ban becomes a success. The recent launch of a public grievance app to track complaints of single plastic use is a laudable step in this regard.
• An independent environment regulator as envisaged by the Supreme Court should be created to oversee the prudent implementation of the new rules.
• India’s plastic consumption at 11 kilogrammes is still only a tenth of the US and less than a third of China’s, according to PlastIndia 2015. But, the projected high growth rates of GDP and continuing rapid urbanisation suggest that India’s trajectory of plastic consumption and plastic waste is likely to increase. The masses shall be sensitized about plastic waste through awareness programmes and other campaigns and shall be encouraged to use alternatives to plastic.

THE CONCLUSION: Making India plastic-pollution free is not going to be easy and the responsibility is not limited to one stakeholder — the plastic industry or governments, for instance. All the stakeholders involved from the production of raw materials, plastic manufacturers, giant FMCG companies, national, state and local governments along with the consumers have their parts to play to make the ban a success. The national and state governments have a long road ahead of them to ensure enforcement of the notified ban. We just cannot envisage that from July, India will become a single-use plastic-free nation.Consumers like you and I also have a role to play, which ranges from refusing the use of plastic carry bags irrespective of the thickness, consuming consciously and, of course, segregating the solid waste we generate in our households. This will ensure plastic waste can be diverted away from dumpsites to treatment facilities, where it can be recycled and given a second life.

Mains Practice Questions:

1. The single-use plastic (SUP) ban is a significant step towards building a sustainable planet we can proudly hand over to the next generation. Comment.
2. Researchers, experts and environmentalists feel that bans work but only to an extent. Critically examine the statement in the context of the single-use plastic ban.

ADD TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE

PLASTIC BAN AROUND THE WORLD

• United Nations resolution: 124 countries which are party to the United Nations Environment Assembly including India signed a resolution to draw up an agreement which will in the future make it legally binding for the signatories to address the full life of plastics from production to disposal, to end plastic pollution.
• Bangladesh became the first country to ban thin plastic bags in 2002.
• New Zealand became the latest country to ban plastic bags in 2019.
• China issued a ban on plastic bags in 2020 with a phased implementation.
• Seattle became the first major US city to ban plastic straws in 2018.
• European Union (EU): The directive bans certain single-use plastics for which alternatives are available.
• Current scenario: 68 countries have plastic bag bans with varying degrees of enforcement.

Successful initiatives:

In 2008, Rwanda became a pioneer in banning the disposal of plastic among the developing nations and has transformed into one of the cleanest nations on the globe, in spite of its financial constraints.

Less successful initiatives:

Ethiopia’s ban on the import and production of carrying bags thicker than 330 microns, plateaued out in a short period. This is the matter with many developing countries including India, despite strengthening their stance against packaging plastics, they fail to effectively implement it due to the dearth of infrastructure, enforcement, and availability of affordable alternatives.

INDIA’S EFFORTS IN TACKLING PLASTIC WASTE

THE PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016

• It clearly stipulates that urban local bodies (ULBs) should ban less than 50 micron thick plastic bags and not allow the usage of recycled plastics for packing food, beverage or any other eatables.
• It introduced the concept of EPR(Extended Producer Responsibility) to manage plastics in India.EPR means the responsibility of a producer for environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life.

PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2022

• The guidelines on EPR(Extended Producer Responsibility) coupled with the prohibition of identified single-use plastic items. It banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carrying bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than seventy-five microns.
• The items that will be banned are—Earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration, plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons and knives, straw, trays, wrapping films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100-microns and stirrers.
• The ban will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic.
• The Central Pollution Control Board, along with state pollution bodies, will monitor the ban, identify violations, and impose penalties already prescribed under the Environmental Protection Act.

SWACHH BHARAT MISSION – URBAN 2.0

Segregation and sorting:

• Under this, every Urban Local Body (ULB) is required to adopt 100% source segregation of waste, and have access to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for sorting the dry waste (including plastic waste) into further fractions for recycling and/ or processing into value-added products.
• This is aimed to reduce plastic and dry waste ending up in dumpsites or waterbodies.
• Further, the ULBs will need to identify SUP ‘hotspots’ and eliminate them.
• ULB shave to leverage the support of State Pollution Control Boards and form special enforcement squads, conducting surprise inspections and imposing heavy fines and penalties on defaulters, for enforcing SUP bans.

Alternatives:

• The ULBs will need to identify SUP alternatives (such as cloth/jute/plastic bags, degradable cutleries, etc.) readily available in the market and create awareness about such alternatives among citizens.

Reuse:

• States and ULBs have also been advised to enter into MoUs with nearby cement plants or other industrial units as well to ensure that a part of the plastic waste generated is used either as an alternative fuel in cement plants or for road construction purposes.

THE “INDIA PLASTIC CHALLENGE – HACKATHON 2021

• It is a unique competition calling upon start-ups /entrepreneurs and students of   Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to develop innovative solutions to mitigate plastic pollution and develop alternatives to single-use plastics.

OTHERS:

India Plastics Pact:

• The India Plastics Pact is an ambitious, collaborative initiative that aims to bring together businesses, governments and NGOs to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics in their value chain. The Pact aims to transform the current linear plastics system into a circular plastics economy that will:

o   Reduce the use of problematic plastics in India.

o   Retain valuable materials in the economy for use in other products.

o   Generate jobs, investments and opportunities in the plastics system in India.

Project REPLAN:

• This is the first of its kind project in India, where plastic waste is de-structured, degraded, diluted and used with paper pulp while making handmade paper and thus reducing plastic waste from nature. The invention is aligned with the Prime Minister’s call for fighting the menace of single-use plastic.

Un-Plastic Collective:

• The Un-plastic Collective (UPC) is co-founded by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WWF-India.
• The Collective seeks to minimise the externalities of plastics on the ecological and social health of our planet. The word ‘un-plastic’ specifically refers to moving all types of plastics in a circular economy and removing unnecessary plastic in the long run, while using sustainable alternative materials.

GoLitter Partnerships Project

• The Project was launched by the International Maritime Organization(IMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO). The Government of Norway provided initial funding for the project. The project aims to help the maritime transport and fishing sectors to adapt to a low-plastic future. To achieve this goal, this initiative will assist developing countries to apply best practices for the prevention, reduction, and control of marine plastic litter from those sectors.
• 30 Countries are participating in the project. India is also one of the participating countries.