EDITORIAL DISCUSSION – 26th JUNE, 2018
3. Reduce, segregate-THE HINDU – 26thJune, 2018
Plastic-free India is a nudge away
-LIVEMINT – 26th June, 2018
PLASTIC POLLUTION … A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW-1
BAN ON PLASTIC IN 3 AFRICAN COUNTRIES
NEWS REPORT
Maharashtra Govt. enforced plastic ban from 23rd June.
The decision was announced in March.
Now, as per the Govt. notification, ban is on manufacture, use, transport, distribution, wholesale and retail sale, storage and import of plastic bags with and without handle.
It also covers disposable products made from plastic and thermocol (polystyrene), such as single-use disposable dishes, cups, plates etc.
WHAT ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE BAN?
1. PET bottles irrespective of capacity are exempted. They should have a pre-defined buyback price ranging from Rs. 1 to Rs. 2.
2. Plastics used for packaging of medicines, compostable plastic bags, the material used for plant nurseries.
3. Plastic bags not less than 50 micron thickness used for packaging of milk.
4. Plastic manufactured for export in SEZs and plastic to wrap the material at the manufacturing stage.
Penalties, which can be imposed by urban and rural civic bodies, collectors, forest officers, police authorities etc., are from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 25,000, with three months in jail.
PET stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate, which is a form of polyester just like clothing fabric.
PLASTICS & THE GROUND REALITY
1. Worldwide, only 9% of about 9 billion tonnes of plastic produced since 1950s got recycled.
2. India’s data is not reliable and it is patchy.
3. There are existing regulations on plastic waste management and solid waste management.
4. Specifications for the recycling of different types of plastics were issued two decades ago by Bureau of Indian Standards.
5. The major concern is India’s plastic waste, estimated officially at 25,000 to 26,000 tonnes a day, is being dumped into the oceans.
NEWS REPORT OF 2016
SALIENT FEATURES OF SWM RULES, 2016
1. It is applicable beyond municipal areas and extend to urban agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships and areas under the control of Railways, Airports, Defence, SEZs etc.
2. Segregation of waste at source is mandated. This will put waste to wealth by recovery, reuse and recycle.
3. Generators of waste have to segregate in three forms.
Wet (biodegradable) like food, vegetables, kitchen waste etc.
Dry like plastic, paper, metal, wood, glass, diapers, napkins etc.
Hazardouslike antifreeze products, mosquito repellents, cleaning agents etc.
This segregated waste is to be handed over to authorized rag pickers, waste collectors or local bodies
4. Integration of rag pickers and waste dealers into the formal system is to be done by State Governments & Self Help Groups
5. Generator has to pay “User Fee” to waste collector and “Spot Fine” will be imposed for littering and non-segregation
6. Responsibility on manufacturers of diapers and sanitary napkins to provide pouches to keep the used products
7. Responsibility on resident welfare associations, gated communities, new townships, hotels & restaurants was increased and they are made responsible for several activities
Tirunelveli town in Tamil Nadu became the first in the country to achieve 100% segregation of waste at source across households and establishments.
PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016
1. Area of applicability is extended to rural areas also
2. Thickness of plastic carry bags increased from 40 micron to 50 micron size. The idea is to increase production cost and to discourage usage. It is also expected that collection by waste pickers will increase.
3. The production of non-recyclable, multi-layered plastic will be phased out in 2 years.
4. The producers, importers and brand owners need to set up a system to collect back the plastic waste.
5. Street vendors, small retailers who provide plastic bags need to register with their local bodies.
Everyday 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated
Only about 60% is collected and processed
Plastic waste is non-biodegradable and poses environmental threat
With these new rules, Plastic Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011 will not be applicable
WHAT ARE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE BY NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BODIES?
1. The Prime Minister stated that India would do away with all single-use plastics by 2022.
2. UN member countries recently resolved to produce a binding agreement in 18 months to deal with the release of plastics into the marine environment.
3. Every year, 8 million tonnes of plastic waste, including bottles and packaging make their way into the sea.
There is a Great Pacific Garbage Patch of the plastic debris in Pacific Ocean between San Francisco and Hawaii islands. Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system is on the UN map of 10 rivers worldwide that carry the bulk of plastic waste into the oceans.
WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY MICROPLASTICS?
1. 5 mm in size are called microplastics.
2. They can be formed by fragmentation of large plastic waste material.
3. These are the microfibers from washing of the textiles, microbeads used in cosmetics and even paint from land run-offs.
These account for a third of the plastic pollution in the oceans.
WHY MICROPLASTICS ARE DANGEROUS TO THE FOOD CHAIN?
1. They are taken by the Zooplankton, which is the lowest link in the food chain.
2. The Zooplankton is eaten by the fish and the microplastic finally reaches the seal, which consumes the fish.
3. Microplastics, once ingested can settle in the stomach and lead to reduction in feeding capacity of the organisms.
As they tend to be more time in the oceans, they absorb various pollutants and hence act as the vectors, transferring toxic chemicals from the environment into the marine organisms.
PLASTIC POLLUTION…OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY
1. Indian plastic industry provides employment to over 4 million people in approximately 30,000 processing and manufacturing units.
2. It is worth Rs. 1 trillion as of financial year 2014-15. It’s growth is around 10.5%.
3. Plastic exports accounted for $ 7.64 billion and they constituted 3% of India’s total exports in 2015-16.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE IN RECENT TIMES?
1. On 27th March, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change amended the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
2. As per this amendment, manufacturers, suppliers, and sellers of plastic across the nation are required to phase out, over a period of two years, the products which will have no alternative use or are non-recyclable and non-energy recoverable.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
1. Strict implementation of Plastic Management Rules, 2016.
2. State-level Monitoring Committee is headed by the Urban Development Secretary in each state. He should be mandated to produce a monthly report on how much plastic is collected, including details of the types of chemicals involved and disposal methods.
3. Local bodies are mandated to ensure segregation, collection and transfer of waste to registered recyclers. But, local bodies failed to fulfil their responsibilities and they should take the responsibility.
4. Steps should be taken to stop the generation of mixed waste, which prevents the recovery of plastics.
5. Companies covered by Extended Producer Responsibility provisions must be required to take back their waste.
6. In parallel, incentives can be given to reduce the use of plastic carry bags, single-use cups, plates etc.
7. Retailers must be required to switch to paper bags.
8. Creating circular plastic economy is one option.
9. There should be a shift from cheap and disposable to durable, reusable and fully recyclable products.
NUDGING … INCENTIVES … BEHAVIORAL CHANGE
1. Incentives and tax benefits for the manufacturers will facilitate gradual shift to alternatives for plastic.
2. Government can nudge rather than coerce the citizens to demand and use less plastic.
3. Nudge is the aspect of the choice architecture that alters people’s behaviour in a predictable way.
4. Normative social influence, which taps into people’s intrinsic urge to conform and liked by those around them can have positive change.
5. We can think of giving discounts to the consumers, who bring their own bags or reward points for not requesting a plastic bag, as opposed to fining, penalising or charging high prices.
6. Another nudge, which is successful in the global context is “opt-out model”, where the customers would by default be considered as opted-in for non-plastic items, forcing them to manually opt-out to choose otherwise.
3. Reduce, segregate-THE HINDU – 26thJune, 2018
Plastic-free India is a nudge away
-LIVEMINT – 26th June, 2018
PLASTIC POLLUTION … A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW-1
BAN ON PLASTIC IN 3 AFRICAN COUNTRIES
NEWS REPORT
Maharashtra Govt. enforced plastic ban from 23rd June.
The decision was announced in March.
Now, as per the Govt. notification, ban is on manufacture, use, transport, distribution, wholesale and retail sale, storage and import of plastic bags with and without handle.
It also covers disposable products made from plastic and thermocol (polystyrene), such as single-use disposable dishes, cups, plates etc.
WHAT ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE BAN?
1. PET bottles irrespective of capacity are exempted. They should have a pre-defined buyback price ranging from Rs. 1 to Rs. 2.
2. Plastics used for packaging of medicines, compostable plastic bags, the material used for plant nurseries.
3. Plastic bags not less than 50 micron thickness used for packaging of milk.
4. Plastic manufactured for export in SEZs and plastic to wrap the material at the manufacturing stage.
Penalties, which can be imposed by urban and rural civic bodies, collectors, forest officers, police authorities etc., are from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 25,000, with three months in jail.
PET stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate, which is a form of polyester just like clothing fabric.
PLASTICS & THE GROUND REALITY
1. Worldwide, only 9% of about 9 billion tonnes of plastic produced since 1950s got recycled.
2. India’s data is not reliable and it is patchy.
3. There are existing regulations on plastic waste management and solid waste management.
4. Specifications for the recycling of different types of plastics were issued two decades ago by Bureau of Indian Standards.
5. The major concern is India’s plastic waste, estimated officially at 25,000 to 26,000 tonnes a day, is being dumped into the oceans.
NEWS REPORT OF 2016
SALIENT FEATURES OF SWM RULES, 2016
1. It is applicable beyond municipal areas and extend to urban agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships and areas under the control of Railways, Airports, Defence, SEZs etc.
2. Segregation of waste at source is mandated. This will put waste to wealth by recovery, reuse and recycle.
3. Generators of waste have to segregate in three forms.
Wet (biodegradable) like food, vegetables, kitchen waste etc.
Dry like plastic, paper, metal, wood, glass, diapers, napkins etc.
Hazardouslike antifreeze products, mosquito repellents, cleaning agents etc.
This segregated waste is to be handed over to authorized rag pickers, waste collectors or local bodies
4. Integration of rag pickers and waste dealers into the formal system is to be done by State Governments & Self Help Groups
5. Generator has to pay “User Fee” to waste collector and “Spot Fine” will be imposed for littering and non-segregation
6. Responsibility on manufacturers of diapers and sanitary napkins to provide pouches to keep the used products
7. Responsibility on resident welfare associations, gated communities, new townships, hotels & restaurants was increased and they are made responsible for several activities
Tirunelveli town in Tamil Nadu became the first in the country to achieve 100% segregation of waste at source across households and establishments.
PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016
1. Area of applicability is extended to rural areas also
2. Thickness of plastic carry bags increased from 40 micron to 50 micron size. The idea is to increase production cost and to discourage usage. It is also expected that collection by waste pickers will increase.
3. The production of non-recyclable, multi-layered plastic will be phased out in 2 years.
4. The producers, importers and brand owners need to set up a system to collect back the plastic waste.
5. Street vendors, small retailers who provide plastic bags need to register with their local bodies.
Everyday 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated
Only about 60% is collected and processed
Plastic waste is non-biodegradable and poses environmental threat
With these new rules, Plastic Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011 will not be applicable
WHAT ARE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE BY NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BODIES?
1. The Prime Minister stated that India would do away with all single-use plastics by 2022.
2. UN member countries recently resolved to produce a binding agreement in 18 months to deal with the release of plastics into the marine environment.
3. Every year, 8 million tonnes of plastic waste, including bottles and packaging make their way into the sea.
There is a Great Pacific Garbage Patch of the plastic debris in Pacific Ocean between San Francisco and Hawaii islands. Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system is on the UN map of 10 rivers worldwide that carry the bulk of plastic waste into the oceans.
WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY MICROPLASTICS?
1. 5 mm in size are called microplastics.
2. They can be formed by fragmentation of large plastic waste material.
3. These are the microfibers from washing of the textiles, microbeads used in cosmetics and even paint from land run-offs.
These account for a third of the plastic pollution in the oceans.
WHY MICROPLASTICS ARE DANGEROUS TO THE FOOD CHAIN?
1. They are taken by the Zooplankton, which is the lowest link in the food chain.
2. The Zooplankton is eaten by the fish and the microplastic finally reaches the seal, which consumes the fish.
3. Microplastics, once ingested can settle in the stomach and lead to reduction in feeding capacity of the organisms.
As they tend to be more time in the oceans, they absorb various pollutants and hence act as the vectors, transferring toxic chemicals from the environment into the marine organisms.
PLASTIC POLLUTION…OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY
1. Indian plastic industry provides employment to over 4 million people in approximately 30,000 processing and manufacturing units.
2. It is worth Rs. 1 trillion as of financial year 2014-15. It’s growth is around 10.5%.
3. Plastic exports accounted for $ 7.64 billion and they constituted 3% of India’s total exports in 2015-16.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE IN RECENT TIMES?
1. On 27th March, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change amended the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
2. As per this amendment, manufacturers, suppliers, and sellers of plastic across the nation are required to phase out, over a period of two years, the products which will have no alternative use or are non-recyclable and non-energy recoverable.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
1. Strict implementation of Plastic Management Rules, 2016.
2. State-level Monitoring Committee is headed by the Urban Development Secretary in each state. He should be mandated to produce a monthly report on how much plastic is collected, including details of the types of chemicals involved and disposal methods.
3. Local bodies are mandated to ensure segregation, collection and transfer of waste to registered recyclers. But, local bodies failed to fulfil their responsibilities and they should take the responsibility.
4. Steps should be taken to stop the generation of mixed waste, which prevents the recovery of plastics.
5. Companies covered by Extended Producer Responsibility provisions must be required to take back their waste.
6. In parallel, incentives can be given to reduce the use of plastic carry bags, single-use cups, plates etc.
7. Retailers must be required to switch to paper bags.
8. Creating circular plastic economy is one option.
9. There should be a shift from cheap and disposable to durable, reusable and fully recyclable products.
NUDGING … INCENTIVES … BEHAVIORAL CHANGE
1. Incentives and tax benefits for the manufacturers will facilitate gradual shift to alternatives for plastic.
2. Government can nudge rather than coerce the citizens to demand and use less plastic.
3. Nudge is the aspect of the choice architecture that alters people’s behaviour in a predictable way.
4. Normative social influence, which taps into people’s intrinsic urge to conform and liked by those around them can have positive change.
5. We can think of giving discounts to the consumers, who bring their own bags or reward points for not requesting a plastic bag, as opposed to fining, penalising or charging high prices.
6. Another nudge, which is successful in the global context is “opt-out model”, where the customers would by default be considered as opted-in for non-plastic items, forcing them to manually opt-out to choose otherwise.
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