NEWS

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has said the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of single-use less than 100 microns would be prohibited from July 1

WHAT IS SAID

• As per Rule 4 (2) of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (as amended)
• The rules prohibit “identified single-use plastic items which have low utility and high littering potential by 2022.”
• What are the items included – Ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, polystyrene for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery, wrapping and packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards and cigarette packets, and plastic or PVC banners

SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

• Also called disposable plastics
• Used only once before they are thrown away or recycled
• Not usually biodegradable
• Goes into a landfill where it is buried or it gets into the water and finds its way into the ocean.
• Degrade into tiny particles after many years. In this process of degradation, they release toxic chemicals (additives that were used to shape and harden the plastic) which make their way into our food and water supply