Known for causing pollution hazards, the multi-layered plastics (MlP), the shiny cover in which many ready-to-eat food, chips and biscuits as well as tobacco products are being sold, will be phased out soon.
The Union Environment Ministry, on Monday, notified an amendment to the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2018, adding MlP to the list of plastics that it expects to be phased out. MlP are made up of a layered composition of various types of plastics with non-plastics such as aluminium foil. These are non recyclable and are currently polluting our soil and water bodies.
The ministry said in a statement here that a central registration system will be in place, and the names of producers, importers and brand owners will be part of it The centralized registration system will be evolved by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the registration of the producer/importer/brand owner. While a national registry has been prescribed for producers with a presence in more than two states, a state-level registration has been prescribed for smaller producers/brand owners operating within one or two states, as per the statement.
According to Saahas Zero Waste, an NGO, billions of MlP are either being burnt or dumped into our oceans and landfills causing serious health repercussions to animals and plants.
The plastic manufacturers especially the MlP manufacturers are yet to take any concrete steps in setting up a system for collection and channelling of their post-consumer packaging products.