Maharashtra govt exempts retail packaging from plastic ban ambit

Just after a few days of crackdown on state-wide use of plastic the Maharashtra government has decided to exempt retail packaging from the ambit of the ban which could water down the overall ban on use of plastic in the state.

 

Environment minister Ramdas Kadam stated that the decision was taken by an empowered committee on Wednesday that retail packaging of not less than 250gm will be allowed and notification regarding the exemption will be issued on Thursday.

 

Kadam said, "We discussed this with the chief minister in the cabinet meeting on Thursday. But the exemption is being made with a few riders.”

 

Kadam said that they will insist that the retailer print his name and quality of plastic on the pack and the retailers would also have to set up a back buy mechanism in the next three months to ensure that the plastic they are giving comes back to them.

 

"If they do not fall in line, we can at anytime bring them back under the ban," said Kadam.

 

Kadam also said that this ban has been lifted for only foodstuff packaging as there is not much options available. Loose milk sellers will not be able to benefit from this exemption, as people can take their vessels to get milk.

 

It was reported that an expert committee comprising five senior bureaucrats has recommended to the empowered committee formed to take decisions on the matter that such an exemption be made given the difficulty of enforcing the ban on neighbourhood kirana stores that use plastic covers to hand out items such as dal, rice and sugar to buyers. However, the ban is likely to be lifted off only for foodstuff packaging and not for loose milk.

 

Meanwhile, instructions have been given to stay imposition of fine on garbage bin liners and take away containers which restaurants give too are being re-considered and so penalty should not be imposed on these outlets as well, said a senior official who was present in the meeting.

 

In another decision taken by the committee, bulk consumers like malls, multiplexes and marriage halls have been directed to install collection centres in their premise so that the plastic waste generated in their premise can be collected in one place and sent for recycling.

 

In order to avoid confusion, officials stated that the environment department is coming out with a pictoral list of what is exempted and what is not. And massive awareness campaigns will be started regarding the ban.