'Make biodegradable plastic bag production mandatory'

NEW DELHI: Toxic plastic bags may become a thing of the past if the Centre approves a proposal to make the production of eco-friendly biodegradable 'green' bags mandatory in the country.

The country's pollution control watchdog, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), has submitted a draft proposal to the Environment Ministry seeking mandatory manufacturing of bio-degradable bags prescribing to the standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) across the country.

Last year, the BIS had notified IS/ISO:17088:2008 for biodegradable plastic films for the manufacturers in the country.

"However, being voluntary in nature, BIS standards are rarely adopted by the manufacturers. Hence, the Environment Ministry needs to issue a notification banning ordinary plastic bags and promoting biodegradable plastic bags," a senior official from CPCB said.

The move has come in the wake of a Delhi High Court order which had suggested promotion of biodegradable bags while asking the state government to ban plastic bags in shopping malls, public places and hotels besides hospitals.

The official said that the draft proposal has been discussed in length in the environment ministry in May in view of the environmental hazards being caused by the commonly used plastic. "We hope it gets approved soon," he said.