In a relief to people, the government has decided to lift the plastic ban on small PET and PETE bottles with capacity of less than half litre. Maharashtra Government decided to revoke the ban on plastic bottles, providing some relief from its earlier decision to curb environmental damage from the non-biodegradable material. But, on one condition that all manufacturers will have to establish a recycling chain by setting up reverse vending machines and tie up with recyclers to keep an eye to avoid its accumulation in open spaces. The state, the largest generator of plastic waste in India, had banned use, purchase, sale, distribution and storage of single-use disposal plastic, items made from thermocol and polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate esters bottles of less than 0.5 litres. For other bottles, including those used for water and beverages, consumer have to pay more upfront and get refunds of up to Rs 2 on returning them at deposit centres. Now, all bottles are included in the buyback scheme. The decision is a welcome change and adhered to control plastic menace.
Chitra Krishnan
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
