PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

>>    The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has notified the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. As per the latest annual report for the year of 2025 - 2026, the plastic waste generated from 21 Corporations, 138 municipalities, 490 Town Panchayats and 2 Cantonment Board of Tamil Nadu is around 1578 tons/day, out of which 99% is collected and segregated by the respective urban bodies in which the recyclable plastic waste are sold to the recyclers and non-recyclable plastic waste are sent for co-incineration in cement plants. As per Rule 13 of Plastic Waste Management Rules, the plastic manufacturers shall obtain Registration from the Board. The Board has issued registration to 39 compostable plastic manufacturing units, 105 plastic waste recycling units. The Board submits the annual report in Form-VI to the CPCB.

Ban on one time Use and Throwaway Plastics

>>    The Government vide G.O.(Ms) No.84 Environment and Forests (EC.2) Department dated 25.06.2018 have issued orders by banned14items of ‘use and throwaway plastic items irrespective of thickness. The ban is in effect from 01.01.2019. The Board in co-ordination with line departments took various actions for effective implementation of the ban on plastics, which includes awareness programmes through regional conferences, district environmental committee meetings, rallies at district headquarters, messages through social media, display board in national highway check posts etc. In order to intensify the plastic ban and in compliance with the orders of the Hon’ble High Court of Madras, the Government vide G.O. (Ms). No. 37 Environment and Forests (EC.2) Department, dated 05.06.2020 has issued orders by banning the use of plastic in primary packaging also. As part of action on violators, the Board issued closure orders for 293* units who manufactured banned plastic items.

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021

>>    The Ministry of Environment & Forests, Climate Change, Govt. of India vide notification dated 12.08.2021 has issued Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021 in which certain Single Use Plastic items such as plastic/PVC banners less than 100 microns, cutlery items, ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, etc are prohibited from 01.07.2022. Also, plastic carry bags less than 75 microns and non-woven plastic carry bags less than 60 Gram Per Square Metre (GSM) shall be prohibited from 30.09.2021 and plastic carry bags less than 120 microns shall be prohibited from 31.12.2022.

>>    District wise plastic waste recycler

>>    Eco Alternative Directory for banned SUPs

>>    Centralized EPR portal: https://eprplastic.cpcb.gov.in

>>    Meendum Manjappai: https://tnpcb.gov.in/meendummanjappai