Plastic Waste
Plastic
Plastic means material which contains as an essential ingredient a high polymer such as HDPE (High density Polyethylene), LDPE (Low density Polyethylene), PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), Vinyl, Polycarbonate Etc.
What is Plastic Waste
"Plastic waste" means any plastic discarded after use or after its intended use is over. Plastic is a non-biodegradable waste, it cannot be decomposed by microorganisms. Plastic waste is generated at the level of households / commercial buildings / markets / institutions / public or tourist places etc.
ISSUES WITH PLASTIC
Environmental Issues:
- Littering of land by plastic presents an ugly and unhygienic scene.
- The ‘throw away culture’ results in choking the city drainage system.
- Littering of Plastic reduces rain water percolation resulting in lowering of water levels.
- Polythene if burnt in open releases highly toxic gases Sulphur dioxide, Oxides of Nitrogen, Carbon Monoxide and deadly Dioxin and Furans.
Health Hazards:
- During the manufacturing process of polythene various harmful components/ chemicals like colourants, pigments, plasticizers, antioxidants and heavy metals are used.
- Colours used during the process are mostly non-food grade which leach out with other chemicals, thus contaminating food and other items carried in these bags.
- The chemicals used in the process can cause diseases like cancer, degeneration of brain tissues, heart enlargement etc.
- Coloured polythene carry bags can contaminate food with the following heavy metals:
i) Lead through Black Polythene Carry Bag
ii) Chromium through Red Polythene Carry Bag.
iii) Copper through Blue Polythene Carry Bag.
iv) Salt of Barium through Green Polythene Carry Bag.
Waste Management Options:
- Plastic waste, which can be recycled, shall be channelized to registered plastic waste recycler and recycling of plastic shall conform to the Indian Standard: IS 14534:1998;
- Local bodies shall encourage the use of plastic waste (preferably the plastic waste which cannot be further recycled) for road construction;
- The inert from recycling or processing facilities of plastic waste shall be disposed of in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2000.
“Extended Producer Responsibility” on Producer, Importer and Brand Owner for waste collection and establishment of Dry Waste Collection Centres and Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) by Municipal Corporations and Urban Local Bodies.
Regulatory Framework
The Jammu and Kashmir Non-Biodegradable Material (Management, Handling and Disposal) Act, 2007 was notified to prohibit and regulate handling and disposal of non-biodegradable material in Jammu and Kashmir. The Act provides for implementing a comprehensive programme for prevention, control, safe handling and disposal of non-biodegradable material/waste. Stringent penal provisions have also been provided in the Act to penalize the violators under various provisions of the above referred Act.
The Jammu and Kashmir Non-Biodegradable Material (Management, Handling and Disposal) Act, 2007 was amended in 2020 vide SO No. 1229(E) dated 31.03.2020, whereby pecuniary punishment under penal provisions for any violation under the act has been increased exponentially from Rs. 5000/- to Rs. 50,000/-. This has been done to discourage the use of non-biodegradable material.
- Order No. 356-GAD of 2019; 08/03/2019- Ban on use of disposable single use plastic water bottles in all the government offices in J&K .
- PCB Order No.: 28-JKPCB of 2020- Complete ban on open burning of MSW including Plastic waste- all local bodies to ensure implementation- compliance of Hon’ble NGT directions dt. 02-01-2017 in OA 199/2014 & 22-07-2019 in OA 247/2017.
- Order No. 72 JK(HUD) of 2020: Prohibition of littering of plastic waste in and around at any public place, including historical and religious places.
- No plastic manufacturing/recycling units are running in Non-conforming/residential areas of J&K and is also been ensured that plastic carry bags below 120 microns and other plastic sheets/films below 50 microns are not being manufactured, stocked, sold and used in J&K.
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has authorized different functionaries of Forest Department, Rural Development Department, Police Department, Revenue Department, Tourism Department, Urban Local Bodies and Wildlife Department to penalize the violators for any offence under the Act, this has been done in order to ensure that any violation anywhere within the territorial limits of Jammu and Kashmir is compounded and the violators booked for offences committed under the Act.
- SRO-243 – authorized various officers of PCB and allied departments to compound the offences under the said Act within their respective territorial jurisdiction.
i. District Officers & above of Pollution Control Board.
ii. SDMs/Tehsildars/Executive Magistrates.
iii. CEOs of Tourism Development Authorities.
iv. Secretary & Enforcement Officers of LAWDA.
v. Officers of JMC & SMC.
vi. Executive Officers of Municipal Bodies.
vii. Wildlife Wardens/ Range Officers, Wildlife Deptt;
viii. Range Officers and above of Forest Department.
- SRO 311- Authorizing Block Development Officers / Panchayat Inspectors of Rural Department for compounding the offences under J&K Non-Biodegradable Act, 2007.
As a part of J&K Governments initiative towards effective implementation of elimination and ban on Single Use of Plastics and in compliance to Government of India (GoI) notification vide G.S.R. 571 (E) dt. 12/08/2021, where under following amendments have been done:-
- Thickness of polythene carry bags increased from 50 to 75 microns from 30th September, 2021 and to 120 microns with effect from the 31th December, 2022.
- Non-woven plastic carry bags less than 60 Gram Per Square Meter (GSM) has also been banned with effect from 30th September 2021.
- Prohibiting of following identified Single Use Plastic items including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene with effect from 1st July, 2022.
- Ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration;
- Plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 10 micron, stirrers.
The thickness of plastic carry bags has also been increased from fifty microns to 75 microns w.e.f 30th September 2021 and to 120 microns w.e.f 31st December 2022.
Responsibilities of stakeholders under PWM Rules
- Responsibilities of Manufacturer / Producer / Brand-owner to seek EPR Registration from J&K Pollution Control Committee and to ensure collection of plastic waste based on EPR.
- Responsibilities of Waste Generator to pay user fee charges as specified by Urban Local Bodies and to ensure segregation of plastic waste during an event organized in open space and handling same in accordance with Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
- Responsibilities of Local Bodies:
i) To develop and set up infrastructure for segregation, collection, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of the plastic waste;
ii) Ensuring processing and disposal of non- recyclable fraction of plastic waste;
iii) Creating awareness among all stake holders about their responsibilities;
iv) Engaging civil societies or groups working with waste pickers;
v) Ensuring that open burning of plastic waste does not take place; and
vi) To submit annual report on Form V to PCB by 30th of June every year.