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Context: After banning the import of plastic waste in 2019, the Environment Ministry has permitted PET Bottles, as plastic waste, to be imported for processing.

• The decision to roll back the ban was taken after representations by several industries in the business of processing waste said this ban was causing them financial losses.
• An expert committee of the Environment Ministry recommended that firms who had applied for permission could import PET Flakes/Bottles up to 50% of their production capacity.
  • Polyethylene Terephthalate bottles are a category of plastic of which nearly 90% of the domestic supply is already recycled.
  • The import is permitted only for the PET bottles to be used for Recycled Polyester Staple Fibre and yarn.

Why PET import was banned?

• The influx of PET bottles has reportedly quadrupled from 2017 to 2018 with Indian firms importing plastic scraps from China, Italy, Japan and Malawi for recycling.
• India consumes about 13 million tonnes of plastic and recycles only about 4 million tonnes.
• To incentivise domestic plastic recycling units, the government had banned the import of plastic waste, particularly PET bottles, in 2015.

Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility on plastic packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

• These guidelines are coupled with prohibition of identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1st July 2022, to reduce pollution caused by littered plastic waste.

Significance of this move:

• Strengthen the circular economy of plastic packaging waste
• Provide a roadmap for businesses to move towards sustainable plastic packaging
• Promote development of new alternatives to plastics.
• Give a boost for formalization and further development of plastic waste management sector.

Key guidelines:

• Mandated Reuse of rigid plastic packaging materialto reduce the use of fresh plastic material for packaging.
• The enforceable prescription of minimum level of recycling of plastic packaging waste collected under EPR along with use of recycled plastic content to reduce plastic consumption and support recycling of plastic packaging waste.
• It allows for sale and purchase of surplus extended producer responsibility certificates, thus setting up a market mechanism for plastic waste management.
• Online platform:Implementation of EPR will be done through a customized online platform, which will act as digital backbone of the system. It will allow tracking and monitoring of EPR obligation and will reduce the compliance burden for companies through online registration and filing of annual returns. To ensure monitoring on fulfilment of EPR obligations, the guidelines have prescribed a system of verification and audit of enterprises.
• Framework for levy of environmental compensation:It prescribe a framework based upon polluter pays principle, with respect to non-fulfilment of extended producer responsibility targets by producers, importers & brand owners. The funds collected shall be utilized for collection, recycling and end of life disposal of uncollected plastic waste in an environmentally sound manner.
• Producers, importers & brand owners, may operate schemes such as deposit refund system or buy back or any other model, in order to prevent mixing of plastic packaging waste with solid waste.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/three-years-after-plastic-waste-ban-environment-ministry-allows-imported-pet-bottles-for-processsing/article65275155.ece

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