Ban on plastic packaging: NGT grants stakeholders more time

The National Green Tribunal, which is mulling ban on plastic packaging of products including PET bottles, today granted more time to various stakeholders to file their submissions on the proposal.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swantanter Kumar granted last opportunity to various plastic manufacturing units and other parties to file their written submissions in the matter so that there contentions can also be taken into account.
It also impleaded Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in the matter.
The green bench had on March 23 directed MoEF to issue a "public notice" to the manufacturers and users of multi- layered/pet bottles packaging in national newspaper if anybody wished to address the tribunal on the question of ban.

The tribunal has listed the matter for next hearing on May 7 and 8.
"Prima facie, we are of the view that there has to be restriction placed upon such packaging and generation of municipal plastic waste. However, before we pass any order, we consider it appropriate that all the stake holders should also be heard," the bench had said in its March 3 order.

If banned, the order can have wide ramifications as various household item like spices, milk, hair oil, shampoo, beverages cereal, biscuits and carbonated drinks use Tetra pak cartons, plastic sachets and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles.

The Tribunal was hearing a petition filed by NGO Him Jagriti Uttaranchal Welfare Society seeking directions to restrict the use of plastic bottle and multi-layered/plastic packages/pet bottles by imposing a ban on packaging of carbonated soft drink.
The NGO also has also sought phasing out of the use of plastic polyethylene for all other non-essential items besides modifications in the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 and direction to the Board and the Environment Ministry to issue prohibitory directions in terms of Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Seeking exemption only for water and pharmaceuticals industries as these are "essential" items, it had said unrestricted and unregulated use of plastics for the purpose of packaging has significant health and environment impact.

The counsel appearing for the MoEF had told the bench that meetings were held to consider various aspects of pet bottles packaging of food and food products etc but nothing could be materialised and further scientific study is required.