- Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the rules under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to amend Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016.
- Key highlights of the amended Rules
- Inserts new Rule for responsibility of Panchayats at District level: To undertake assessment of plastic waste generated and plastic waste management infrastructure available at District level.
- PWM Rules, 2016 had provisions for responsibility of Gram Panchayat related waste segregation, collection, storage, etc.
- Responsibility of Producers, Importers and Brand Owners: Who introduces any plastic packaging in the market shall be responsible for collection of such plastic packaging.
- Fulfillment of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is deemed to be a part of the above responsibility.
- EPR means the responsibility of a producer for environmentally sound management of product until the end of its life.
- Reports: Mandates every manufacturer and importer of plastic raw material to submit quarterly and annual reports online to State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Pollution Control Committee (PCC).
- Also mandates every urban local body and Panchayat at District Level to submit annual reports to Urban/ Rural Development Departments and SPCB/ PCC, which shall be audited by SPCB/ PCC or other designated agency.
- Inserts new Rule for responsibility of Panchayats at District level: To undertake assessment of plastic waste generated and plastic waste management infrastructure available at District level.
Other initiatives to address Plastic Pollution
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