Reportedly the kerala government has decided to ban the manufacture, sale and storage of plastic products across the state effective from january 1, 2020. Meanwhile the state has also given more authority to the pollution Control Board by laying down heavy fines for those found violating the plastic ban. Furthermore the decision was taken on thursday at a cabinet meeting was chaired by chief minister pinarayi vijayan, and is based on the recommendations of an expert technical committee and the committee was to advise the state on how to control the use of plastic substances.
Apparently two state owned enterprises have exempted the ban the kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (MILMA) and kerala State Beverages Corporation but companies have been asked to buy back the plastic bottles they sell. Perhaps the state has also allowed the use of plastic used for medical purposes and compostable plastic and the plastic bottles and packets sold by kerala Beverages Corporation, KeralaFed, Milma and kerala Water Authority bought back by them from their consumers, according to the Extended Producers Responsibility Plan of the state government.
Moreover only plastics manufactured for export, plastics used in the healthcare industry, and materials made from compostable plastics (labelled ISO or ISO 17088: 2008) have been exempted from the ban. Perhaps the Department of industry has been directed to promote units that produce eco-friendly bags instead of plastic bags. Apparently the state will also be enforcing the solid waste management rules of the Ministry of Environment and Forests where 5% of the land in industrial parks should be earmarked for waste management and recycling.
