A recent decision by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to keep manufacturers of ‘compostable’ carry bags and products out of the purview of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and not register with the State pollution control boards has riled up solid waste management activists.
The CPCB’s clarification says that these carry bags / products are made from ‘bio-based materials’ and have no toxic components.
However, solid waste management activist Archana Kashyap said giving a free rein to manufacturers will affect the solid waste management process downstream.
“How will someone at a Dry Waste Collection Centre determine if it is synthetic polymer or a biodegradable product? When the ban on plastic below 40 microns was announced, plastic bags stamped as greater than 40 micron started coming in. In a country where there is a lot of illegal manufacturing, very soon we will get all kinds of plastic branded compostable,” she said.
She also said the pollution control board will not be responsible for the impact of the relaxation, but the local municipality will have to deal with it downstream.
BBMP likely to appeal
D. Randeep, Special Commissioner (solid waste management), BBMP, said there is no way of saying how ‘compostable’ these bags were, as well as which ones are and which ones aren’t.
“Karnataka had banned even compostable bags because we didn’t want waste footprint. The narrative has changed from single-use disposable to reusable. Why do we need disposable bags when there are options such as cloth bags,” he asked. He added that the BBMP would explore its options on how to appeal to the CPCB to relook its decision.