menace of plastic items

The civic authorities in Faridabad have raised concerns about phasing out single-use plastic (SUP) items under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. A letter dated January 15 from the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) to the Regional Office of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) highlighted the need for strict enforcement of regulations governing plastic bags and related items.

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The letter refers to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) notification of March 2016, which bans certain SUP items and prescribes a minimum thickness for carry bags effective July 1, 2022. The banned items include plastic earbuds, sticks for balloons, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, thermocol decorations, plastic plates, cups, cutlery, straws, trays, wrapping films, PVC banners under 100 microns, and stirrers. Additionally, plastic carry bags under 75 microns are also prohibited under Rule 4(1)(c) of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The MCF communication calls for launching an awareness and enforcement campaign to ensure compliance. “The department is requested to launch an awareness and enforcement campaign with all stakeholders in confidence as per the notification and ensure the implementation of the rules,” it states.

Highlighting the environmental and financial burden caused by plastic waste, AK Gaur of the Faridabad Action Group, an NGO, said, “Plastic waste has not only been one of the major causes of pollution but also the main reason behind the choking and blocking of the sewage and drainage system in the city. Polythene and plastic waste constitute around 60 to 70 per cent of the garbage dumped in dustbins or accumulated at disposal points of the drains.”

Responding to the issue, Sandeep Singh, Regional Officer, HSPCB, Faridabad, said his office had not yet received the MCF communication. However, he emphasised that the department acts against complaints related to SUP violations. Singh added that while there is no manufacturing of SUP items in the city or district, the responsibility for issuing challans for usage lies with multiple offices, including the civic body.