Plastic industry has to fathom responsibility: State

Mumbai: The state government is determined to go ahead with the plastic ban despite the plastic manufacturers raising concerns over the consequences of the ban, which is likely to affect the livelihood of around eight lakh people. The government stated that the ban was the need of the hour. In fact, state government officials asserted that plastic manufacturers claim that they are fighting for their rights, but they do not understand their responsibilities.

In its affidavit to the Bombay High Court regarding the petition against the plastic ban , the government had stated that plastic waste was disrupting the natural balance of the ecosystem, thereby causing environmental problems and harm to the flora and fauna as well as having a damaging impact on the biodiversity.

“The waste management and plastic management rules also state that it is the extended responsibility of the manufacturers to dispose of the plastic, which has not been carried out effectively by them. This left the state government with no other option but to ban it,” said Sanjay Sandanshiv, under secretary, environment department of the Maharashtra government. Officials have also suggested that manufacturers and retailers should come up with mechanisms like proper collection of used plastic, recycling it, adopting equipments like crushers and shredders in the shops, to treat plastic.