Come 5 June 2022 – World Environment Day – Countries / UTs and Urban Urban Structures across the country will embark on a campaign, in an effort to eradicate recyclable plastic waste (SUP), and to contribute to environmental development, under the auspices of “Clean and Green”. This comes after Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s speech at the 89th State of Mann Ki Baat State speech on May 29, 2022, in which he urged citizens to come together and make efforts to clean up and plant trees during World Environment Day,
Given the dual mandate of World Environment Day and SUP’s indictment ban on SUP 30 June 2022, the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has issued detailed advice to States and UTs to compile a list of activities to achieve these bonds. This will include extensive cleaning and planting, with special emphasis on plastic waste collection, and large-scale tree planting campaigns, in collaboration with all citizens – students, volunteers, charities, local NGOs / CSOs, NSSs and NCC cadres , RWA, market associations, corporate businesses, etc.
Reducing the amount of plastic and dry waste
The advice to enforce SUP’s national mandate ban includes a number of proposed schemes. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0, currently operated by MoHUA, plastic waste management, including the elimination of SUP – is an important focus area. Under the Policy, all ULBs are required to use 100% waste disposal, and have access to the Refuse Refinery (MRF) to filter dry waste (including plastic waste) into additional components for recycling and / or processing at added value. products, thereby reducing the amount of plastic and dry waste that remains in the landfill or in the water.
Although 2,591 (4,704) ULBs have already reported SUP notification in accordance with Central Pollution Control Board and MoEF& CC guidelines, States / UTs will need to ensure that the remaining 2,100-plus ULBs report the same on June 30, 2022. it will have to identify the ‘hot spots’ of the SUP and eliminate them, while also supporting the support of State Pollution Control Boards and the formation of special law enforcement teams, conducting unexpected inspections and imposing severe fines and penalties on those who do not pay, enforcing SUP.
In accordance with PWM (Amendment) By 2021 regulations, the production, importation, storage, distribution, sale and use of portable or recycled plastic bags of less than seventy-five microns (75 µ i.e. 0.075 mm in diameter) is prohibited from the date of discontinuation. -30 September, 2021 unlike the 50 microns previously recommended under the PWM Rules, 2016. As a result of this new arrangement, citizens are now being encouraged to stop using thin plastic handbags provided by street vendors, local shop owners. , vegetable sellers etc. and use other options.
Spread awareness about the use of SUP
In line with the PWM (Amendment) Regulations, 2021 a series of interventions will be put in place to strengthen law enforcement. ULBs will need to identify other SUP methods (such as cloth / jute / plastic bags, damaged cutting materials, etc.) that are easily available in the market and alert citizens to those alternative methods. Companies, which deal with bottled beverages, may be asked to set up Bottle Banks (where users can be paid for disposing of PET bottles), and set up functional and recyclable plastic booths in various locations, as part of their Expanded Producer Responsibility (EPR) Authority. Alternatively, ULBs may establish Thaila kiosks (bag) / Bartan (Dishes) or bandits to provide citizens with alternative SUP alternatives, especially for use at public meetings and ceremonies, thus helping to reduce the use of SUP. These systems can be strengthened with ‘swachhataraths’ that will be distributed to all public places, markets, and other high-speed hotspots to spread awareness about the use of SUP and the use of other SUP methods.
Countries and ULBs have also been advised to enter MoUs with nearby cement plants or other industrial units and to ensure that part of the plastic waste produced is used as an alternative fuel for cement industries, or for road construction purposes. For this final purpose, the ULBs or their Departments of Public Works will need to come up with detailed guidelines for using multi-layered SUP / plastics in road construction.
Most importantly, the advice emphasizes public participation, in which all sections of the population – elected representatives such as mayors and ward councilors, voluntary organizations, local NGOs / CSOs, community welfare organizations, market organizations, self-help groups, students and youth. parties etc., should be identified and negotiated with them, conveying the message of SUP ban and enforcement. ULBs can also encourage citizens to make promises not to throw away trash cans and prevent plastics from entering garbage dumps, as well as prize campaigns to raise awareness of good waste disposal practices in the media or on social media to encourage others to stop using SUP.
All these programs must be recorded by States / UTs and ULBs with a detailed recording and recording of high-level employment. Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban, run by MoHUA, is committed to building “Garbage Disposal Cities” through in-depth knowledge. sewage systems and waste management in all legal cities in the country.
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