To do away with lack of clarity about restrictions on use of plastic, the state government will organize workshops with stakeholders like e-commerce majors, packaged drinking water manufacturers and multi-level packagers.
"We will devise a strategy to bring all stakeholders together, including producers, implementing agencies, industries, consumers and the government, to ensure that the ban on plastic and thermocol is implemented," said E Ravindran, member secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).
The Maharashtra government has banned disposable, single-use plastic and plastic products and thermocol. On June 30, the state environment department allowed sale of PET and PETE drinking water bottles and use of plastic for retail-level packaging subject to conditions like a buyback scheme. It said e-commerce companies could use plastic for packaging for three months and develop environment-friendly alternatives in this period. They were to establish a collection mechanism for plastic packaging generated in three months and ensure its recycling and disposal.
Ravindran said only a few players from these sectors had submitted their extended producers responsibility (EPR) plans to the MPCB despite the three-month period laid down in the notification being completed on September 30. He added that the workshop, which would be held later this month, would aim at clearing perceptions and warned that after this awareness and outreach, the MPCB would initiate penal action against offenders. This will include penalties and even closure.
The MPCB is looking at catalysing the set-up of common systems to collect and recycle plastic used in these sectors, especially in urban areas.
"The difficult part is collection (of used plastic products like bottles). The consumers have to be sensitised to give these bottles back," explained Ravindran.
He added that so far, the MPCB had taken action against around 250 units for manufacturing banned forms of plastic, seized 151 tonne of plastic and collected Rs 4 crore as fine.
Viren Shah of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA), said despite the plastic ban, the problem persisted. "They have not stopped plastic being brought from outside Maharashtra. They should have (imposed the ban) in a phased manner," he added.