Report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in the matter of CPCB Vs State of Andaman & Nicobar & Others regarding Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The NGT vide order September 10, 2020 directed the Chairman and Member Secretary, CPCB to hold periodic meetings with the Chairman and Member Secretaries of all the state boards/committees on the subject to work out enforcement strategies, including action plans in all the districts - involving educational, religious and other institutions.

The CPCB had issued directions October 9, 2020 to the Chairman of state pollution control board (SPCB)/pollution control committee (PCC) for setting up of institutional mechanism as well as taking up steps for enforcement of provisions of PWM Rules. The regime for levying EC for violation of PWM Rules had been framed by the CPCB and the same would be revisited, if required after finalization of EPR Framework by MoEF&CC.

Compliance report submitted by the 25 states and union territories (UT) has been compiled and includes the following main points:

1. Around 615 unregistered plastic units have been reported in the 25 states and UTs 

2. All the states/UTs have confirmed that they have banned the production of carry bags and plastic sheets of thickness of less than 50 micron

Special Environmental Squad have been set up in 22 states/UTs to oversee and ensure that no litter of plastic waste takes place at public places and dumping plastic waste on drains, rivers, banks and sea. Also no burning of plastic takes place in the open. However, littering and plastic waste continues to be a common sight in the country. In view of this, the states/UTs have been directed to set up an institutional mechanism and take necessary steps for identification of such units and take necessary action.