Pune: The Maharashtra government in its recent notification has directed producers and generators of plastic to conduct the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) activity and end the life of existing plastic products.
The producers and generators of plastic were supposed to collect plastic waste under the EPR under the Plastic Waste Management Rules of 2016 of rule 9 which aimed for the end the management of plastic waste.
Last week, the State sent a notification to the producers, importers and brand owners who introduce the plastic carry bags, multi-layered plastic sachet, or pouches or packaging in the market, on a need to establish a system for collecting the plastic waste.
EPR in Mumbai, Latur
The Hindustan Unilever Limited and The Coca-Cola Company will carry out the EPR activity in 10 wards of Mumbai. Similarly, Plastic Manufacturing Association and Thermoforming and Allied and Manufacturers Association have also been assigned 10 different areas in Mumbai.
Ravi Jashnani, President of The Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturers Association told Sakal Times, about EPR’s pilot project in which the State selects a city close to rural areas.
“We are going to work with Janadhar NGO of Latur and give them financial support along with segregation and bailing machine,” Jashnani said.
Multilayer packaging
Jashnani blamed multilayer packaging for the damage to the environment. “The rag pickers pick up the plastic from the roads and sell it to the recyclers but leave out multilayer packaged products. To end the life of multilayered products, the government has directed the producers and generators to make fuel, use it in road construction, as replacement of coal and in clay ovens,” he said, explaining that plastic being a petrochemical component can be easily converted into energy.
He added that for a month, the government will study the logistics of disposal and recycle of plastic and submit a report to them, after which they will initiate with the pilot project.
Plastic collection drive
On May 28, the Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturers Association along with the Pune Municipal Corporation, SWaCH, and some NGOs will carry out a plastic-free drive at river banks from 7 am to 11 am. Mayor Mukta Tilak, civic chief Saurabh Rao and head of PMC’s Solid Waste Management Department Suresh Jagtap will conduct the drive.
