The Environment Ministry has banned the use of recycled plastic or compostable plastic for packing foodstuff.
Notifying the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 on Monday, the Environment Ministry also banned the use of plastic materials in sachets for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala. The new rules will replace the earlier Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999 (amended in 2003).
Emphasising on waste management, the new rules place the responsibility on municipal authority for setting up and operationalisation of a system for managing the plastic waste. Further, as an additional safeguard, the rules suggest that plastic carry bags should not be provided free of cost to consumers and the municipal authority may determine the minimum price for carry bags.
“It is impractical and undesirable to impose a blanket ban on the use of plastic all over the country,” said Environment Minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh.