Now,
therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (viii) of
sub-section (2) of section 3 read with
section 25 of the Environment (Protect 1 on) Act. 1986, the Central
Government hereby notifies the rules for the
manufacture and use of recycled plastics carry bags and containers;
1.
Short title and commencement
(a)
These rules may be called the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and
Usage Rules. 1999.
(b)
They, shall come into force on the date of their publication in the
Official Gazette.
2.
Definitions:
In these rules unless the context requires
(a)
"Act" means the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986:
(b)
"Foodstuffs" means ready-to-eat food and food products.
fast food, processed and cooked food in liquid,
powder, solid or semi-solid form:
(c)
"Vendor" means person who
sells foodstuffs as defined above packaged and stored in plastic carry
bags
and containers.
3.
Prescribed
Authority
(a)
The prescribed authority for enforcement
of the provisions of these rules related to manufacture and
recycling shall be the State Pollution Control Boards in respect of
States and the Pollution Control
Committees in respect of Union Territories;
(b)
The prescribed authority for enforcement
of the provisions of these rules related to the use, collection,
segregation, transportation and disposal shall be the District Collector/Deputy
Commissioner of the
concerned district where no Such Authority has been constituted by
the State Government/Union
Territory administration under any law regarding non-biodegradable
garbage.
4.
Prohibition of usage of carry bags
or containers made of recycled plastics
No vendor shall use carry bags or containers
made of recycled plastics for storing, carrying, dispensing, or
packaging of foodstuffs.
5.
Conditions
of Manufacture of carry bags and containers, made of plastics
Subject to the provisions of rule 4,
any person may manufacture carry bags or containers made of plastics
if
the following conditions are satisfied,
namely;
(a)
Carry bags and containers made of virgin
plastic shall be in natural shade or white;
(b)
Carry bags and containers made of recycled
plastic and used for purposes other than storing and
packaging foodstuffs shall be manufactured using pigments colourants
as per IS:9833:1981 entitled
"List of pigments and colourants for use in plastics in contact
with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and
drinking water".
6.
Recycling
Recycling of plastics shall be undertaken
strictly in accordance with the Bureau of Indian Standards
specification: IS 14534: 1998 entitled
"The Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics".
7.
Marking/codification
No manufacturers of recycled plastic
carry bags having printing facilities shall code/mark carry bags and
containers as per Bureau of Indian
Standard Specification: IS 14534: 1998 entitled "The Guidelines
for
Recycling of Plastics" and the
end product made out of recycled plastics shall be marked as "recycled"
along with the indication of 1e percentage
of use of recycled material. Other manufacturers, who do riot
have printing facilities, shall comply
with the condition within one year of publication of these rules.
Manufacturers shall print on each packet
of carry bags as to whether these are made of "recycled material"
or of "virgin plastic".
8.
Thickness of Carry bags
The minimum thickness of carry bags
made of virgin plastics or recycled plastics shall not be less than
20
microns.
9.
Self regulation by certain persons
Without prejudice to the provisions
contained in rule 3, the Plastics Industry Association, through their
member units, shall undertake self-regulatory
measures.
Water
Act 