Govt plan to ban single-use plastic on track

The central government's plan to ban single-use plastic is on track and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and its departments have stopped using it.

Consumer affairs minister Ram Vilas Paswan said, "Single-use plastic harms the environment as well as aquatic life. I have devoted myself to PM's vision and am fully prepared. The government will not take a step which will lead to job losses."

India generates 95 lakh tonne of plastic waste every year, out of which 38 lakh tonne is single-use.

The government is now focusing on stopping the use of plastic in other industries. The ministry officials will meet Food Corporation of India officials next Monday to stop the usage of plastic and replace it with 100% jute bags.

The ministry met officials from water packaging industry last week and took their suggestions. The industry has suggested new formulation of standard for packaged drinking water, permission to recycle PET for packaged drinking water, availability of R&D fund, encourage alternative use of paper-based packaging, encouraging the use of compatible plastic and installing more water ATMs.

Zee Media Newsroom