Delhi Government Approves Action Plan To Phase Out Single-Use Plastic

With the government proposing to prohibit plastic items in stages, the environmental department of the Delhi government is formulating an action plan after consulting experts on possible alternatives for identified single-use plastic. Two meetings with stakeholders have been conducted to scour suggestions on possible alternatives. After seeking suggestions and objections on the draft from citizens and stakeholders for two months till May 11, the ministry is currently deliberating on the feedback it has received, ministry officials told IndiaSpend, asking not to be named.

In the three-stage ban, the first category of single-use plastic items proposed to be phased out is plastic sticks; used in balloons, flags, candies, ice creams, earbuds and thermocol used in decorations.

The second category proposed to be banned from July 1, 2022, includes items such as plates, cups, glasses and cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping and packing films used in sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, stirrers and plastic banners that are less than 100 microns in thickness.

 The third category of prohibition is for non-woven bags; below 240 microns in thickness. This is proposed to start from September 30, 2022.

The banning of these items is part of the draft Plastic Waste Management 2021. A senior official said that the environmental department is conducting virtual discussions with leading FMCGs, research institutes, plastic associations, recyclers, consultants, sustainability entrepreneurs, private businesses and brand owners for brainstorming on potential single-use plastic alternatives and their feasibility.

An assessment by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) this year showed that 66% of the plastic waste generated in the country is accruing from seven states alone. It further said; Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and West Bengal, “followed a highly consumerist lifestyle” and generated 48% of the total plastic waste.

Besides, the Government has also been taking measures for awareness generation towards the elimination of single-use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. A two-month-long Awareness Campaign of Single-Use Plastic Ban, 2021 has been organized. The Ministry has also organized a pan-India essay writing competition on the theme for spreading awareness among school students in the country. To encourage innovation in developing alternatives for identified single-use plastic items and digital solutions to plastic waste management, the India Plastic Challenge – Hackathon 2021, has been organized for students of Higher Educational Institutions and startups recognized under Startup schemes.

We are still struggling to define single-use plastic and find alternate solutions for it. However, working together can help bring solutions forward.

    Blog By - Pranjal Diwan