WB govt to promote innovation in plastic waste management

KOLKATA, West Bengal: Firhad Hakim, Minister for Urban Development and Mayor of Kolkata, on Monday, December 12, said that the violators of plastic ban norms will be penalised while, on the other hand, entrepreneurs will be encouraged to solve this plastic menace. While talking to The Plurals, Hakim said, “We will soon impose fines and lodge cases against (plastic norm) violators in the KMC (Kolkata Municipal Corporation) area and gradually extend it to other municipalities.”

As per the report published by an environmental think tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in West Bengal, around 2 lakh tonnes of plastic waste remained unprocessed and was left to pollute the environment during 2019-20. As per the report, the state generated 3 lakh tonnes of plastic waste during the same period, out of which only 39,091 tonnes (13 per cent) were recycled and 60,047 tonnes (20 per cent), were burnt legally. The rest were either disposed of or burnt illegally.

The Plastic Management Act mandates that each local body must set up infrastructure for the collection, storage, segregation, transportation, processing and disposal of plastic waste. The act reads, “Each local body must set up infrastructure for segregation, collection, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of plastic waste either on its own or by engaging agencies.”

The act also specifies fines and legal actions for both individual users and vendors for using illegal plastic bags. An Individual has to pay a fine of ₹50, and the vendors will be fined ₹500 for using a plastic bag of less than 75 microns in thickness. This minimum thickness limit will increase to 120 microns by December 31, 2022. 

In terms of the quantity of illegally disposed of plastic waste, West Bengal stood in fifth place. Maharashtra tops the list with 2.9 lakh tonnes, followed by Tamil Nadu. Gujarat is third from the last, followed by Telangana in the category of “total plastic waste left” without treatment.