What are Single Use Plastics (SUPs)?

Single Use Plastics are plastic items that are intended to be used only once before being disposed of or recycled. For example, straws, stirrers, water bottles, plastic bags, plastic banners, and packaging.

Why are SUPs banned?

These single-use plastic items potentially impact the environment causing land and water pollution, causing adverse effects on plants and animals, and dangerously breaking down into microplastics. The challenges in collection, segregation, and recycling are a few reasons for the ineffective management of single-use plastics.

What are the Rules and Regulations regarding Plastic Waste Management?

Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

It provides the statutory framework for plastic waste management in India. The rules state the conditions of use of plastics, its management, the responsibilities of local bodies, gram panchayats, waste generators, producers, importers and brand owners, retailers and street vendors, registration of producers or brand owners, units engaged in processing or recycling of plastic waste and manufacturers of plastic raw materials, and the marking and labeling requirements of plastics.

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021

It provides details regarding the ban on Single Use Plastics and the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags.

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022

It provides the guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility of Producers, Importers and Brand owners.

Central Pollution Control Board’s direction on phasing out Single Use Plastics, 2022

This direction provides a Comprehensive Action Plan to eliminate the manufacture, stock, selling, import, and usage of SUP items, along with specific timelines. The directions are for SUP manufacturers, plastic raw material manufacturers, E-commerce companies, and other stakeholders. It also provides detailed directions for State Authorities, Local authorities, and other agencies/ organizations with an action plan for phasing out SUP.

What are the bans and restrictions imposed on Plastics and SUPs?

As per the amended Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016:

1. Single Use Plastics: The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following Single Use Plastic (SUP), including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities have been prohibited since 1^st July 2022.

 Note: This is not applicable to commodities made of compostable plastics

2. Plastic carry bags: The carry bags made of Virgin or Recycled plastics, shall not be less than 75 µm in thickness (with effect from 30th September 2022) and shall not be less than 120 µm in thickness (with effect from 31st December 2022).

Note: Provisions of thickness are not applicable for compostable plastic carry bags.

3. Plastic sheets: The plastic sheet which is not an integral part of multi-layered packaging and cover made of plastic sheet used for packaging, wrapping the commodity shall not be less than 50 µm in thickness except where the thickness of such plastic sheets impairs the functionality of the product.

4. Non-woven plastic carry bags: The non-woven plastic carry bags shall not be less than 60 Gram Per Square Meter (GSM) with effect from the 30th of September 2021.

5. Plastic sachets: The sachets using plastic material shall not be used for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala.

6. Rigid plastic packaging:

The plastic cups or trays used as packaging for protecting, preserving, storing and transporting of products (in Dairy/Food/Beverage/Bakery industries) are allowed to be used and will be covered under the EPR guidelines.

• The producers of plastic cups and trays used as rigid packaging must register themselves under EPR guidelines and fulfill their EPR obligations.
• The plastic cups and trays that are not used for protecting, preserving, storing, and transporting products will be considered SUPs
• Plastic raw material manufacturers are allowed to supply plastic raw material to producers of plastic cups and trays for their use as rigid plastic packaging.

Standards to meet: Carry bags and plastic packaging, containing added pigments must conform to IS 9833:1981. Compostable plastics carry bags & SUPs must conform to IS/ISO 17088:2021. The manufacturer or seller of compostable plastics must be certified by CPCB. Recycling of plastic waste must conform to IS 14534:1998.

What are the alternatives for SUP items?

To reduce the usage of single-use plastic the efforts of the government, the industry, as well as the citizens, are equally important. Even after the penalties are imposed on violators, many are using single-use plastic unabated. If we fail to follow the rules, no positive result can be achieved.