In line with the clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to phase out single-use plastic by 2022, keeping in view the adverse impacts of littered plastic on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, which prohibits identified single-use plastic items which have low utility and high littering potential by 2022.

Pollution due to single-use plastic items has become a significant environmental challenge confronting all countries. India is committed to taking action for the mitigation of pollution caused by littered single-use plastics. In the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly held in 2019, India piloted a resolution to address single-use plastic products pollution, recognizing the urgent need for the global community to focus on this very important issue. The adoption of this resolution at UNEA 4 was a significant step.

The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of the following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities shall be prohibited with effect from the 1st July 2022:

• Earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration;

• Plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.

To stop littering due to lightweight plastic carry bags, with effect from 30 September 2021, the thickness of plastic carry bags has been increased from fifty microns to seventy-five microns and one hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31 December 2022. This will also allow the reuse of plastic carry due to an increase in thickness.

The plastic packaging waste, which is not covered under the phase-out of identified single-use plastic items, shall be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable way through the Extended Producer Responsibility of the Producer, importer, and Brand owner (PIBO), as per Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. For effective implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility, the Guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility being brought out have been given legal force through Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.

The waste management infrastructure in the states/UTs is being strengthened through the Swachh Bharat Mission. The following steps have also been taken to strengthen the implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and also to reduce the use of identified single-use plastic items:(i) the States/UTs have been requested to constitute a special task force for the elimination of single-use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The ministry has also constituted a national-level task force to coordinate efforts to eliminate identified single-use plastic items and implement Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The State /UT Governments and concerned central ministries or departments have also been requested to develop a comprehensive action plan for eliminating single-use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and its implementation in a time-bound manner. Under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, directions have been issued to all States/Union Territories inter alia for setting up for institutional mechanism for strengthening enforcement of Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016.

The Government has also been taking measures for awareness generation towards eliminating single-use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. A two-month-long awareness campaign of Single-Use Plastic 2021 has been organized. The ministry has also organized a pan India essay writing competition on spreading awareness amongst school students in the country.

To encourage innovation in developing alternatives to identified single-use plastic items and digital solutions to plastic waste management, the India Plastic Challenge – Hackathon 2021 has been organized for higher educational institutions and startups recognized under the startup India initiative.