Plastic bags ban U-turn? Shopkeepers may get relief in Maharashtra

Plastic bags ban has impacted not just the public but also affected businesses and reportedly also led to job cuts in various establishments. However, now it seems the Maharashtra government may backtrack on its plastic bag ban and provide relief to all concerned. It is being reported that the state government has proposes to exempt retailers from the ban. This comes as good news for the shopkeepers and consumers.
 
State government of Maharashtra may allow the use of plastics at the retailers end for packaging of edibles, DNA revealed. But it will be the duty of the manufacturers that the plastic they use is collected and recycled. Notably, the plastic used must be above 50 microns in thickness. The plastic bag must also have the name of manufacturer and type of plastic used should be mentioned too.
 
“There is a plan to exempt retailers from the ban and allow them to use plastic for packaging. The proposal has been approved by the experts' committee last week and will be tabled before the Empowered Committee of ministers that is likely to meet this week,” a senior official from the state environment department told DNA.

“However, this will come with a commitment to recycling the plastic waste. The plastic bags must also mention the source, namely the name of the manufacturer and type of plastic. It must also be above 50 microns in thickness,” he added.

Retailers complained that industrial primary packaging has been excused from the ban, while it was banned at their end. Also, they said that some products have multi-level packaging like chips that are more harmful to the environment.

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“Terms like primary and secondary packaging are misleading. For example, if a retailer purchases a sack or container of rice from Igatpuri and sells it in his shop by packing it into smaller packages, how will you classify it? Primary or secondary packaging,” he questioned. The official said that around 80 per cent of retail businesses conduct packaging at their end, especially for commodities like dal, masala, and rice.

In the rural areas the ban on the use of plastic for packaging at retailer’s level would make things difficult for traders, the official told DNA. So Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) officials would meet implementing authorities from local bodies to sort out the issues, said official.

Source: DNA