No Proposal to expand single-use plastic ban: Govt

Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav told Lok Sabha that the government does not currently have any proposals under consideration to extend the scope of the ban on single-use plastics.

Minister Yadav's response was in response to a question from MP Umesh G Jadhav on details of the proposed expansion, if any, of identified plastic items under the ban.

The Center's ban on selecting single-use plastics to reduce plastic waste went into effect on July 1, 2022. Single-use plastics are generally items that are thrown away after only one use and do not pass through the recycling process. They are a huge contributor to plastic pollution.

In 2020, India generated more than 4.1 million tons of plastic waste and much of it was not recycled and ended up polluting the environment. Faced with this situation, the Government of India on July 1, 2022, announced a ban on the production, import, storage, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastic products with high potential for pollution.

Thousands of other plastic items, such as plastic water bottles or plastic chip bags, are not yet banned, but earlier this year the Indian government held manufacturers accountable for their recycling and disposal.

Prohibited items include headphones with plastic sticks, plastic balloon sticks, plastic flags, candy sticks, popsicle sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrap or bale film around candy boxes, invitation cards and cigarette packs, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns and shakers.

India produces about 14 million tons of plastic waste every year. At the same time, there is no organized system for its collection and processing in the country.

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