Halol plastic makers shut shops over lack of clarity

VADODARA: Without clarity on what products come under the ‘single-use plastic’ category that has been clamped with a nation-wide ban by the Centre, plastic manufacturers in Central Gujarat are facing the heat.
In fact, many of the manufacturers in Halol, one of the biggest plastic manufacturing hubs in Gujarat, have started closing down their units. Panchmahal district counts for nearly 500 plastic manufacturing units which provide livelihood to nearly 50,000 people.
“There is no clarity on what constitutes single-use plastic. If the government considers carry bags as single-use plastic, those are recyclable. But different states, different municipalities and civic bodies follow their own interpretations on what constitutes ‘single-use plastic’. Because of this we are facing problems,” said Jitendra Kothari, secretary of Halol Plastic Welfare Association.
According to association office-bearers over 70% factories have simply downed shut shop from lack of buyers after dealers, fearing penalties, are no longer picking up their products or stocking them. The ban may take effect from October 2, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
“We employ unskilled labourers, especially women at our units. On one hand there are states like Gujarat, West Bengal and Kerala where carry bags with microns over 50 are allowed, whereas there are 18 other states which are not ready to allow carry bags above 50 microns. Uttar Pradesh government is not ready to allow any carry bags of whatever microns. Hence, this lack of clarity is leading to total chaos,” lamented Pinkal Shah, a Godhra-based manufacturer who supplies raw material to manufacturing units in Halol.
Manufacturers say that the problem of pollution cannot be solved by banning plastic bags. “The civic bodies should focus more on waste management and make people aware about proper disposal of plastic,” said Prithviraj Dhoka, president of the association.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed for self-restrain on use of single-use plastics. But all states, municipalities are coming out with their own definitions of single-use plastics,” said Vadodara-based Madan Jain, secretary of Plastic Processors Gujarat Association.
“The Plastic Waste Management Rule 2016 was amended in 2018. All the plastic manufacturers are following this rule. The United Nations has defined what constitutes single-use plastic in 2018 but Government of India has nowhere defined its meaning,” said Jain.
“It is just because of this lack of clarity, a uniform policy and hasty steps that manufacturers are at the receiving end. How will the manufacturers repay their outstanding loans to banks. Carry bags with above 50 microns thickness are reusable and recyclable but nobody is listening,” he said.