Single-use plastic has lived all its life and where it stands at the moment, then it could be said, that single-use plastic is breathing its final few moments.
The centre recently made giant inroads toward exciting headlines when it announced that single-use plastic would be banned with immediate effect come the month of October.
Mind you, the timeline here is of utmost importance for the simple reason that the month is synonymous with the birth anniversary of the great Mahatma Gandhi, the Father Of The Nation!
But apart from banning the single-use plastic, one wonders, if there’s anything else that the Centre wishes to ban?
Well, as it turns out, the Centre is also intending to initiate a ban on 12 other items, in an elaborate list that includes- polystyrene, that is used in the decorative items as well as cigarette buts.
But the above told, if one wondered as to how immediate is the Centre’s decision to ban single-use plastic, then this is what one needs to be aware of. Even as the decision has been taken to ban the item, a final date regarding its complete banning hasn’t yet been decided. But in addition to this statement of fact, it’s also important to note that the Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had shared that the said item will be banned in a ‘phased manner!’
In an elaborate report published in lines with the above on celebrated news platform – NDTV- the following information was released:
The government has compiled a list of items initially selected to be proposed for banning by the Central Pollution Control Board. The list includes: Thin carry bags (less than 50 microns), non-woven carry bags, small wrapping/packing films; straws and stirrers; cutlery: foamed cups, bowls and plates; laminated bows and plates; small plastic cups and containers (less than 150 ml and 5 grams); plastic sticks for ear buds, balloons, flags and candies; cigarette butts; expanded polystyrene; small plastics for beverages (less than 200 ml) and roadside banners (less than 100 microns).
While we know that the usage of single-use plastic is exceedingly poor from the standpoint of the environment, one can’t help but state that the earlier the item is banned, the better it is for everybody connected with the environment.
And where it stands right now, then the country’s top anti-pollution body is already busy creating a roadmap to phase out the controversial item, in a bid to make India completely free from single-use plastic by the year 2022.
But in order to ensure that the above step is carried out comprehensively, it also appears that some inputs will be required from the end of the plastic industry.
But there also happens to be a flip-side with the Centre’s decision to completely ban the much-talked-about article from India. Because there is a growing fear that the measure might lead to massive job losses. And yet, it is but understood that in the wake of the identification of an alternative (that will replace single-use plastic), several new job opportunities will also emerge.