PLASTICS WASTE MANAGEMENT

The Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules. 1999 were notified for the manufacture and use of recycled plastic carry bags and containers. These Rules were later rechristened as the Plastics Manufacture, Sale and Usage Rules, 1999 by the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage (Amendment) Rules, 2003.

RULE 3: PRESCRIBED AUTHORITY:
  1. The prescribed authority for enforcement of the provisions of these Rules related to manufacture and recycling shall be the State Pollution Control Boards in respect of States.
  2. The prescribed authority for enforcement of the provisions of these rules related to the use, collection, segregation, transportation and disposal shall be the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district, where no such authority has been constituted by the State Government under any law regarding non-biodegradable garbage.

RULE 4: RESTRICTION ON MANUFACTURE, SALE, DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF VIRGIN AND RECYCLED PLASTIC CARRY BAGS AND RECYCLED PLASTICS CONTAINERS
  1. No person shall manufacture, stock, distribute or sell carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic bags which are less than 8 x 12 inches (20 x 30 cms) in size and which do not conform to the minimum thickness specified in Rule 8.
  2. No vendor shall use carry bags made of recycled plastic for storing, carrying, dispensing or packaging of foodstuffs.
  3. No vendor shall use containers made of recycled plastics for storing, carrying, dispensing or packaging of foodstuffs.

Explanation – For the purposes of this Rule, the minimum weight of 50 carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastics shall be 105 gms plus or minus 5% variation and the carry bags of larger sizes shall be of proportionate increase in weigh.

RULE 5: CONDITIONS OF MANUFACTURE OF CARRY BAGS AND CONTAINERS MADE OF PLASTICS

Subject to the provisions of Rule 4, any person may manufacture carry bags or containers made of plastics if the following conditions are satisfied, namely:-
  1. Carry bags and containers made of virgin plastic shall be in natural shade or white.
  2. Carry bags and containers made of recycled plastic and used for purposes other than storing and packaging foodstuffs shall be manufactured using pigments colourants as per IS:9833:1981 entitled "List of pigments and colourants for use in plastics in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water"
RULE 6: RECYCLING

Recycling of plastics shall be undertaken strictly in accordance with the Bureau of Indian Standards specification IS 14534: 1998 entitled "The Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics".

RULE 7: MARKING / CODIFICATION

Subject to the provision of Rules 4 and 5, manufacturers of recycled plastic carry bags having printing facilities shall code/mark carry bags and containers as per Bureau of Indian Standard Specification IS 14534: 1998 entitled "The Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics" and the end product made out of recycled plastics shall be marked as "recycled" along with the indication of 1e percentage of use of recycled material. Other manufacturers, who do not have printing facilities, shall comply with the condition within one year of publication of these rules. Manufacturers shall print on each packet of carry bags as to whether these are made of "recycled material" or of "virgin plastic".

RULE 8: THICKNESS OF CARRY BAGS

The minimum thickness of carry bags made of virgin plastics or recycled plastics shall not be less than 20 microns.

RULE 9: SELF REGULATION BY CERTAIN PERSONS

Without prejudice to the provisions contained in Rule 3, the Plastics Industry Association, through their member units, shall undertake self-regulatory measures.

RULE 10: GRANT OF REGISTRATION FOR MANUFACTURERS

  1. Every occupier manufacturing carry bags or containers of virgin plastic or recycled plastic or both shall make an application in Form I to the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board for grant of registration or renewal of registration for his unit within four months from the date of publication of the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage (Amendment) Rules, 2003 in the official gazette.
  2. On or after the commencement of the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage (Amendment) Rules 2003, no person shall manufacture carry bags or containers irrespective of its size or weight unless the occupier of the unit has registered the unit with the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board prior to the commencement of production.
  3. The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board shall not issue and renew a registration certificate of a unit unless that unit meets the norms prescribed under Rules 5, 6, 7 and 8 of these Rules and also possess a valid Consent under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as per the requirements laid down by the State Pollution Control Board.
  4. The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board shall grant registration within thirty days of receipt of application complete in all respects.
  5. The registration granted under this Rule shall, unless revoked suspended or cancelled earlier, be valid for a period of three years.
  6. Every application for renewal of registration shall be made in Form I at least sixty days before the expiry of the validity of registration.

UNITS REGISTERED UNDER THESE RULES (as of June 2007):

Sl. No Name of Units Location Products
1. M/S Megha Polycon (P) Ltd. Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi District DPE/LLDPE Water Storage Tanks
2. M/S Kakarania Innovative Systems (P) Ltd. E.P.I.P.
Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi District
  • Polythene tubes
  • Plastic bags (plain/printed)
  • Plastic sheet films
  • Linear wrappers
  • Laminated rolls/pouches (plain/printed)

                                       

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