Bhubaneswar: A campaign for single-use plastic ban has been launched on the eve of World Environment Day, 2023. The Odisha government has also reiterated this resolution. But since 2018, the Odisha government has banned single-use plastics. Till today the impact has not been observed so far, this is a matter of concern.
The State government imposed a ban on the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic items. The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) is the implementing authority, while the Panchayati Raj and Housing and Urban Development departments will enforce the ban in rural and urban areas.
Not only that the Transport department will also have a major role to play in proper enforcement so far. They can set up border checkpoints to stop interstate movement of any banned single-use plastic items. But no one is serious to implement in true spirit. Sometimes enforcement squads are doing raids in various shops and fines. But they failed to stop the use. Not only that but the Public are not also serious and has no impact on awareness is reflected upon them.
Generally, In Odisha, people are familiar with plastics nowadays. In the last twenty years, it has been used more and more instead of our old traditional paper bags etc. Not only that now more and more people are using single-use disposable cutlery such as plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweets boxes as well as earbuds, plastic sticks for balloons, flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol), invitation cards, stirrers, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners of less than 100 microns.
As per the Plastic Waste Management Regulations 2021, People, especially traders and vendors, who are found flouting the norms will have to face action and the Government has also directed them to check use of the prohibited plastic items regularly and take appropriate action against the violators. But everything is in pen and paper so far. Even today on the eve of World Environment Day many used single-use plastic items.
