FOREIGN HANDS AT WORK TO BAN PLASTIC ?
Mumbai : The final notification dated 2ndJuly 2018 by Government of Maharashtra failed to provide any relief, which also forced over 300 agitated Plastic Bag Manufacturers & Traders from Maharashtra to meet in (Goregaon) Mumbai todiscuss and decide their next move. Meanwhile, in a fresh submission made to ShriDevendraFadnavis – CM Maharashtra, the office bearers of the Mumbai based “Plastic Bag Manufacturers Association of India” (PBMAI) have urged the Maharashtra government to permit plastic carry bags with minimum 20 grams /per bag weight.
NeemitPunamiya – General Secretary PBMAI alleged “The Notification is very selective and favours Multinationals and completely impairs the small and micro enterprises. Multi layered Packaging which is not 100% recyclable and is being extensively used in packing day to day FMCG products along with plastic bottles and e-businesses have been given a 3 month window to come up with a plan for EPR (Extended Producers Responsibility). The Maharashtra Government has succumbed to the pressure exerted by foreign Consulates and Embassies on behalf of MNC’s”.
“PBMAI is successfully operating a few hundred waste collection centres where based on all waste material collected 65% is Multi Layered plastic packaging of FMCG products (Chips, Biscuits, Namkeensetc) which is non-recyclable. Plastic Carry Bags comprise just 2% of total waste collected at our collection centres which are at high footfall places like railway stations, bus depots, gardens and other densely visited places. PBMAI has already demonstrated aPost Consumer Recycling module at these locations. Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) will be made fully operational in a short period with the participation of an estimated 3.5 Lakh rag pickers. Therefore PBMAI has prayed that the Ban on Plastic Carry Bags be immediately withdrawn and Plastic Bag industry may also be granted a 90 day window on par with Multi Layer Packaging and Plastic bottles” added Neemit Punamiya.
“A judicious mix of all types of carry bags and an effective recycling mechanism is the only solution” claimed NeemitPunamiya – General Secretary PBMAI. PBMAI is finalising its Post Consumer Recyclingfeasibility report and will submit it to the government in August 2018. PBMAIofficials claimed that if allowed to implement its Extended Produces Responsibility (EPR) they will recycle almost cent per cent of Plastic Carry Bags consumed in the state and will work towards making Maharashtra India’s first <50 Micron plastic bag free state in India.
