Maharashtra Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam Suggests Plastic Bottle Manufacturers Should Set Up Recycling Facilities

New Delhi: It is a war against plastic in Maharashtra. First, a ban on all kinds of plastic carry bags which will take effect from Gudi Padwa, next year. Then came the ban on the use of plastic bottles in the government offices including the state secretariat. Now the state’s Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam has said plastic bottle manufacturers should set up facilities for recycling of bottles.

Minister Ramdas Kadam said that his suggestion is a move towards banning plastic products (bottles and carry bags) in the state in the next three months.

Also Read: #PlasticBan: Maharashtra Government Bans Use Of Plastic Bottles In All Government Offices

He also said,

A committee constituted by the government on reuse of plastic products would soon submit its report.

Industries Minister, Subhash Desai, who was also present at the review meeting added,

If plastic bottle manufacturing companies recycle the bottles, it will be very helpful. It is necessary to bring down overall demand for bottles.

Mr Kadam had earlier announced that a major plastic ban will be introduced in the state from March 2018.

This year the state faced excessive rains and saw its capital, Mumbai’s roads turn into rivers with huge volumes of plastic carry bags. Apart from the floating muck in knee-deep waters, the plastic debris made the task of clean up harder for Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) workers.

Maharashtra’s success in this war against plastic may prove to be a crucial for rest of the country. Given how India is choking under the weight of the 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste which is produced daily, and out of which just 9,000 gets recycled, if one of the larger states of India like Maharashtra can crack the plastic waste problem then it will be set as an example for others to follow.

Currently, National Green Tribunal has banned the use of plastic bags, especially the ones below 50 microns. States like Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur have not only prohibited the use of plastic bags but also imposed strict penalties (for instance fine upto Rs. 5,000) on anyone found using, selling, purchasing plastic carry bags.