The Pioneer 15.11.2010
Haryana Govt bans recycled plastic bagsPNS | Chandigarh
The Haryana Government has issued directions for prohibition and restriction on manufacture, sale, distribution and use of virgin and recycled plastic carry bags and recycled plastic containers. Littering of plastic articles such as plates, cups, tumblers, spoons, forks and straw at public places such as parks, playgrounds, recreational places, tourist centres, and religious places would not be permitted.
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that no person shall manufacture stock, distribute, recycle, sell or use carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic carry bags in the State. In areas having special historical, religious and ecological significance, use of all types of plastic articles such as plates, cups, tumblers, spoons, forks and straw shall also be banned.
He said that such places included municipal limits of Thanesar and Kurukshetra and Pehowa towns, precincts of Mansa Devi Temple, Panchkula and Sheetla Mata Temple, Gurgaon and Public Parks; wild life sanctuaries and National Parks of Haryana; and Gram Panchayat, Morni. No person shall use containers made of recycled plastics for storing, carrying, dispensing or packing of foodstuffs.
He said that, however, any person might manufacture containers made of plastics but containers made of virgin plastic would be in natural shade or white; containers made of recycled plastic and used for purposes other than storing and packing foodstuffs would be manufactured using pigments and colourants.
Recycling of plastic except carry bags shall be undertaken strictly in accordance with the Bureau of Indian Standards specification; IS 14534: 1998 entitled “The Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics”. Manufacturers of recycled plastic containers, having printing facilities, shall code or mark containers as per IS 14534: 1998 entitled “The Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics” and the end product made out of recycled plastics shall be marked as “recycled.”
Hooda said that the Haryana State Pollution Control Board would be the prescribed authority for enforcement of the provisions of these directions relating to manufacture and recycling of plastics. The Municipal Commissioner or Chief Executive Officer of concerned Municipal Corporation or Municipality would be the prescribed authority for enforcement of the provisions of these directions for the use, collection, segregation, transportation and disposal of plastic carry bags and containers.
