Ineffective implementation: Ban on single-use plastic is not working

Source: The post is based on an article “Ineffective implementation: Ban on single-use plastic is not working” published in Business Standard on 12^th October 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Environment

Relevance: issues associated with plastic bags

News: The ban on single-use plastic came into effect on 1^st July 2022.

However, items like plastic straws and cutlery are being marketed and used routinely in most places and the ban seems to have remained largely on paper.

The concept of extended producer responsibility to ensure sound management of plastic products has failed to produce the desired results.

What are the problems with single-use plastic bags?

The discarded plastic products are thrown randomly which litter roads and block drainage and cause waterlogging.

These plastic products are disposed of in an environment-unfriendly manner of open burning and emitting highly toxic fumes.

These wastes also affect aquatic life and biodiversity when dissolved in water.

Plastic carry bags of less than 75-micron thickness were banned long ago but they are still being used especially by street vendors and small shopkeepers.

The deadline for phasing out bags of slightly thicker material of up to 120 microns is December 31, 2022. However, with the current situation even this target seems unlikely to be met.

What can be the course of action?

India adopted the resolution on addressing the single-use plastic pollution issue in the United Nations Environment Assembly in 2019.

Whereas, some countries like Kenya and Bangladesh had stopped the use of some plastic bags before the resolution. Kenya had barred the use of plastic carry bags in 2017 while Bangladesh did in 2002.

Many other countries have put in place systems to return the used plastic products back to the producers for appropriate recycling or safe disposal.

Therefore, India needs to follow these countries in ensuring plastic-product manufacturers’ stringent compliance with the extended producer responsibility.