Disposal of Plastics in the Sea – Policies - Polymers in a Marine Environment - page 154

plastic bags [51]. The Ministry of Land, Water and Environment banned the import,
production, distribution, and selling of plastic bags with effect from January 2002
[52]. Violators of the ban pay a heavy ine as a penalty. Cotton and Nylon re-usable
bags have been suggested as the alternatives to plastic bags.
5.4.2.4.6 India
Until recently there has been no deinite environmental policy and legislation for plastic
waste in India. The plastic waste generated, gets collected, traded, and reprocessed
into useful products, thereby supplementing the supply of raw materials, and at
economic price. The National Plastics Waste Management Task Force of the Ministry
of Environment and Forests (MoEF), of the Indian Government has recommended a
strategy and action programme of plastics waste management in India.
MoEF has issued the criteria for labeling 'plastic products' as 'Environmental Friendly'
under its 'Ecomark' Scheme. One of the requirements for plastic products is that the
material used for packaging should be recyclable or biodegradable.
The BIS while formulating Indian standard speciications for various plastic products,
used for critical applications such as plastic piping systems, water storage tanks, and
packaging for food articles, included a clause which reads 'no recycled plastics waste
shall be used'.
The Prevention of Food Adulteration Department of the Government of India has
issued directives to various catering establishments to use only food-grade plastics,
while selling or serving food items. Rules have speciied use of 'food grade' plastic,
which meets certain essential requirements and is considered safe when in contact
with food.
5.4.2.4.6.1 Plastic Waste Management and Handling Rules, 2011
The MoEF, on 11 th February 2011, issued a notiication titled ' Plastic Waste
(Management and Handling) Rules 2011 ', which supersedes the ' Recycled Plastics
Manufacture and Usage Rules 1999 '.
Some of the salient features of the new rules are:
• Useofplasticmaterialsinsachetsforstoring,packingorsellinggutkha(betel
nuts), tobacco and pan masala (areca nut snack) has been banned.