New Delhi, Jan 13 (KNN)  With Delhi being declared as an Air Pollution Control area, it is now mandatory for all units operating for industrial or trade purposes to get prior consent from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
 
“Under Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, prior consent of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) is mandatory for establishing / operating any industrial plant (any plant used for industrial or trade purposes) in an Air Pollution Control Area.  Under section 25/26 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, as amended to date, also prior Consent from DPCC is mandatory,” said a public notice.
 
Also, as per the provisions of the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011, for units engaged in the recycling of plastic waste and located in NCT of Delhi, registration with DPCC is mandatory.
 
Plastic waste, according to the rules, means any plastic product such as carry bags, pouches or multi-layered plastic pouch or sachet, etc which have been discarded after use or after their intended life is over.
 
Recycling, recovery or disposal of plastic waste shall be carried out as per the rules, regulations and standards stipulated by the central government from time to time.  Recycling of plastics should be carried out in accordance with the Indian standard: IS 14534: 1998 titled as ‘Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics.’
 
“Units engaged in the plastic waste recycling are covered under the provisions of the said Air Act, Water Act (if generating/discharging trade effluent) and also under the said Plastic Waste Rules, and are required to obtain consent to operate under the Air and Water Acts and also registration under the plastic waste (management and handling) Rules, 2011 from DPCC,” the notice said.
 
A Supreme Court order states that plastic waste recycling / reprocessing / or other activities which are not in conformity with regard to the Master Plan for Delhi 2021 are not permitted in the non-conforming areas of Delhi.
 
Further, the National Green Tribunal has ordered that all plastic waste / scrap dealers and /or recyclers shall be restrained from carrying on their business of segregation of plastic waste and its eventual transfer to recyclers or disposal.
 
Also unregulated open burning of plastic / rubber or other such articles is not permitted.
 
All plastic waste recycling units operating in approved industrial areas / conforming areas of NCT of Delhi, in conformity with the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD-2021) have been asked to apply for consent to establish, consent to operate and also obtain registration under the Plastic Waste Rules 2011 from DPCC in the prescribed forms, along with the requisite fees and documents.  (KNN/ES)