Karnataka’s Single-Use Plastic Ban: A Flimsy Promise

• Karnataka, the first Indian state to pass a law against single-use plastics, continues to thrive despite the ban.

• The state produces an average of 3.6 lakh tonnes of plastic waste annually, with only 30% reaching processing and recycling units.

• In Bengaluru, only 200 tonnes of the 500 tonnes of SUP used daily are processed, and the rest either reaches landfills or breaks down into microplastics.

• Environmental activists blame civic bodies and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) for a lack of enforcement.

• A 2021 study revealed the presence of microplastics in human placenta, highlighting the infiltrating strength of plastic.

• Plastic for packaging is permitted under strict guidelines through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), but only 129 registered companies recycle their output.

• Many industries continue to produce and import SUPs illegally, with over 300 illegal plastic-producing units operating in Bengaluru.

• The cost of producing 1 kg of SUP is high, with alternatives like cloth or cotton bags costing ₹2 per piece at production and ₹4 to ₹5 at sale.

• The lack of enforcement has allowed SUP to flourish, with enforcement data showing a decline in enthusiasm for enforcement within a year after the law was passed.

• The absence of awareness drives contributes to continued SUP use.

• The formation of five new corporations in Bengaluru has led to regular inspections and drives against SUPs, but the challenge remains to be seen if a new administrative set-up can beat the challenge.

Karnataka Plastic Ban Challenges is important topic for Civil service exam (WBCS).

🚨Daily Current Affairs MCQ pdf download- Google Drive Link https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PN6A2mDkCngLsGR115zhZ_vTV8W7AKN8?usp=drive_link

✅Telegram channel link: https://t.me/TheSoumyaSir

✅Attempt the daily current affairs test in our free section of app (android and ios) : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.iron.rrnvu

✅ Interview related telegram group https://t.me/IASWBCSInterview 🔥 Book free consultation with WBCS Gr A Officer: https://bit.ly/Free-Appointment-with-Soumya-Sir-Other-WBCS-A-Officer

✅ Courses https://www.wbcsmadeeasy.in/courses/

✅ Attempt previous years questions : Link: https://bit.ly/wbcs-pyq-wbcsmadeeasy

✅ Take subject wise Chapterwise mock test : https://bit.ly/wbcs-prelims-all-subjects-chapter-wise-test

✅ Bio – https://bit.ly/m/wbcs-made-easy

✅ App download – Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.iron.rrnvu&pcampaignid=web_share (iOS available too)

WBCS MADE EASY www.wbcsmadeeasy.in

8274048710/8585843673

Jawahar IAS www.jawaharias.in 7439954855