CPCB launches mobile application to track single-use plastic

NEW DELHI: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has launched a mobile application to increase the participation of people in the mission of eliminating single-use plastic items from India. 

Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, has planned to phase out the manufacturing of single-use plastic bags of less than 75 microns thickness by July 1 and plastic bags of less than 120 microns by the end of 2022, along with the other plastic items such as earbuds, balloons, ice-cream sticks, candy sticks, cups, glasses, spoon, packaging and wrapping films, and invitation cards etc.

To ensure the implementation of this plastic ban, CPCB has launched an application called ‘SUP-CPCB’ that gives an active role to the people in this mission. Through this app, citizens could lodge their complaints about the sale, use, purchase, and manufacturing of single-use plastic items. CPCB has also launched a website – Compliance Monitoring of SUP for States and Urban Local Bodies (ULB). On this website, states and ULBs could upload the status of single-use plastic in their region of jurisdiction.

CPCB is a statutory organisation under MoEFCC, established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974. It promotes the cleanliness of streams and wells in states by preventing and controlling water pollution and improves the quality of air by preventing and controlling air pollution in the country.