17,000 tonnes of multi-layered plastic choking Karnataka; KSPCB says all is well

Responding to a petition on the failure to end the menace of multi-layered plastic, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has told the NGT that it has issued notices to stakeholders and hence a petition seeking enforcement of the rule should be “dismissed with cost”.

In March 2016, the ministry of environment, forest & climate change notified plastic waste management rules, 2016. Among the major initiatives in the rules was the two-year deadline for phasing out multi-layered plastic.

“Manufacture and use of multi-layered plastic which is non-recyclable or non-energy recoverable or with no alternate use of plastic, if any, should be phased out in two years’ time,” Section 9(3) of the rules said.

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As that deadline expired in 2018, the ministry, in February 2022, issued extended producer responsibility (EPR) guidelines for various classes of plastic. Besides the EPR targets of 25 per cent in 2021-22, 70 per cent in 2022-23 and 100 per cent in 2023-24, the guidelines set obligatory recycling targets.

Last year, Krishna A and others moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over the failure of the state pollution control boards to implement the rules, specifically targeting the menace of multi-layered plastic.

In its seven-page counter affidavit dated January 31, 2023, KSPCB says there are 263 producers, importers and brand owners (PIBOs) of multi-layered plastic, who generate 17,222.89 tonnes per annum. The affidavit says PIBOs have EPR targets of 5,799.56 tonnes for 2022-23.

The KSPCB lists as its achievements 112 notices issued to manufacturing units, of which 55 were withdrawn due to various reasons. It says 12 cases have been filed against the units.

However, without providing any information on the achievement of EPR or recycling targets, KSPCB says it “is making efforts for strict implementation” of the rules.

Further, it requests the NGT to impose cost on the petitioner. An activist said officials have failed to understand the gravity of the issue.

“Unlike single-layer plastic, a major portion of the multi-layer plastic is impossible to recycle because they contain materials other than plastic. Tetra packs contain paper material and can’t even be used for energy in industries due to the huge amount of ash it generates. The KSPCB has failed to provide details on recycling facilities, let alone targets met by PIBOs. This goes to show the extent of the implementation of the rule,” he added.