Manufacture, sale and use of polythene will be illegal in urban areas of Bihar by the month-end and offenders might face penal action, which includes penalty of up to Rs 5,000.
The Urban Development and Housing Department, Government of Bihar, has, through a notification dated October 12, 2018, issued the Model Bihar Municipality Plastic Waste Management Bye-Laws, 2018 (“Bye-laws”). The Bye-laws is in draft stage and is open for public inspection.
The proposed Bye-laws will apply to every waste generator, manufacturer, producer, importer, brand owner, and users as defined in the Bye-laws. However, it will not be applicable to exporter-oriented units or units in Special Economic Zones manufacturing products against order for export.
Key Highlights:
- A blanket ban on manufacture, import storage transport, sale and usage of plastic carry bags is proposed.
- Exemption for manufacture, import, stocking, distribution and sale of plastic carry bags for storage of Bio Medical Waste has been made. Plastic carry bags used for such purposes must not be less than 50 microns. Disposal of these bags must be according to Bio Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
- Private nurseries using polybags for seedlings must ensure that the bags are more than 50 microns in thickness.
- Plastic sheet or similar items which is not an integral part of multilayered packaging and cover made of plastic sheet used for packaging must not be less than 50 microns unless thickness impairs its functionality. Retailers and vendors must also ensure that such plastic sheets and covers are labelled and marked as per these Bye-laws.
- Manufacturing of multilayered packaging material can be done only after valid registration form Bihar State Pollution Control Board.
- Formats for application and renewal of registration of-
a)producers of plastic,
b)persons recycling or processing plastic waste or proposing to do so,
c)manufacturer of plastic to be used as raw material,
have been incorporated under the proposed Bye-laws.
