Milk pouch units may down shutters from December 15

Milk pouch units may down shutters from December 15

PUNE: The New Year might usher in a problem as manufacturers of milk pouches have decided to stop manufacturing pouches from December 15, 2018. The decision, they say, was taken after the State government forced them to apply the Extended Producers’ Responsibility (EPR) mechanism. The concerned guidelines are going to affect the farmers, milk companies, plastic industry and the common people.

The State Environment Department had set July 11 as the deadline for all dairies to put in place a buyback mechanism for plastic milk pouches. However, the dairy operators say they are still awaiting clarity from the government on how such a mechanism will work.

As per the notification issued by the department on March 23, dairies should use plastic bags of not less than 50 microns thickness to package milk. Besides, they should print a buyback price of not less than Rs 0.50 for the pouches. This would then enable a buyback mechanism for recycling of the plastic pouches. Dairies are expected to set up such a mechanism by July 11.

Prakash Kutwal, Secretary of the Milk Producers and Processors Welfare Association, said dairies do not have the expertise needed to set up the buyback mechanism. He said, “Earlier, milk pouches were excluded from the plastic ban and now suddenly the government is saying that companies and dairies should apply for buyback scheme as in EPR along with the milk pouch manufacturing companies.”

He added, “Since the government has not given any guidelines for EPR mechanism, the milk pouch manufacturers do not know which mechanism to apply, and the government is also shutting the plastic units for not applying the EPR mechanism. So they have decided to stop manufacturing  milk pouches from December 15. This will affect the farmers.” 

Kutwal said 85 lakh milk pouches are distributed in Maharashtra’s market every day. From one lakh polythene bags, 350 milk pouches are produced, in which 170 to 175 litres of milk is consumed. He said even if milk pouches are to be purchased from outside the State, an NOC has to be taken from the MPCB and then only it will be allowed to be used in Maharashtra. 

Arun Narke, former president of Indian Dairy Association and Director of Gokul Dairy in Kolhapur said, “The government should provide some financial assistance for setting up the buyback mechanism. From the total number of farmers from the country, 75 per cent are into milk production, from which 90 per cent are medium and small-scale farmers and 10 per cent are big farmers. The country needs 47 crore litres milk annually. Of this, 60 per cent is procured from private owners and 40 per cent is sold by the government.”

Narke said, “Those mostly hit by this step will be farmers. The government is being unjust to all.”

A highly-placed sourced from the plastic industry said, “There are more than 15 manufacturers of milk pouches and pouches for 85 lakh litres of milk are manufactured daily in Maharashtra. The government is not listening to us, as there are no set guidelines for EPR mechanism and the government is holding us responsible for not applying the mechanism. That is the reason the milk pouch manufacturers will be shutting down from December 15.”

Enjoyed reading The Bridge Chronicle?
Your support motivates us to do better. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated with the latest stories.
You can also read on the go with our Android and iOS mobile app.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
The Bridge Chronicle
www.thebridgechronicle.com