Environment minister announced the ‘India Plastic Challenge – Hackathon 2021’

Environment minister announced the “India Plastic Challenge – Hackathon 2021”

Subject : Environment

Context: Environment minister announced the “India Plastic Challenge – Hackathon 2021” to spur innovation and entrepreneurship in area of tackling plastic waste pollution and elimination of single use plastic.

Concept :

• It is a unique competition calling upon start-ups /entrepreneurs and students of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to develop innovative solutions to mitigate plastic pollution and develop alternatives to single use plastics.

Steps in India

• PM Modi gave a clarion call to phase out single use plastics by 2022
• Government of India has already banned import of plastic waste in the country.
• Ministry of Environment brought out Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, for handling plastic waste in an environmentally sound manner. Under the rules plastic carry bags below 50 microns have been banned.
• Further, the Ministry has issued a draft notification in March 2021 for amending the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, with respect to prohibiting identified 12 single use plastic items such as disposable plastic cutlery etc.”