A twin-city brand audit conducted by a think tank has exposed the blatant anomalies in implementation of the law when it comes to disposal of plastic waste in the State. The audit found the empty plastic packs of prominent food brands to be among the major contributors to non-biodegradable garbage in the cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh.

 According to the rules, the producers, importers and brand owners are liable under extended producers responsibility to help in waste collection but this is not being done in the State.

Dehradun-based think tank Gati Foundation recently undertook twin city brand audit in Rishikesh and Haridwar.

The audit was based on the legal principle of extended producer responsibility enumerated under the Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2016 and Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2016, said the foundation’s Anoop Nautiyal.

In Rishikesh, the audit was conducted at a waste dumping site near Ramjhula while in Haridwar the audit was conducted near Har ki Paidi parking and ground.

In Rishikesh, the top three plastic polluters were Paras Milk, Haldiram and Lays whereas in Haridwar the top three plastic polluters were Haldiram, Lays and Bikano. With this the foundation has so far conducted brand audit in three cities-the one in Mussoorie being undertaken before the twin-city audit.

It now plans to initiate an extended producers responsibility (EPR) campaign against these companies based on the legal rules and other provisions mentioned in the laws. Enhancing corporate responsibility in the Indian Himalayan Region and strengthening the framework of EPR to tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution are the main objectives behind this initiative, said Nautiyal.

According to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the producers shall work out modalities for waste collection system based on EPR and involving State Urban Development department, either individually or collectively, through their own distribution channel or through the local body concerned. Primary responsibility for collection of used multi-layered plastic sachet/pouches/packaging is of producers, importers and brand owners who introduce the products in the market. However, so far this has not been seen in Uttarakhand.