New Delhi: The Commerce Ministry is working on stricter norms for
SEZ units engaged in recycling of plastics following the Environment Ministry's concern on illegal imports of the hazardous waste.
The government, therefore, is not considering any fresh proposal for setting up of such units as it is in the process of finalising a policy for plastic recycling units, according to an official.
Businesses interested in setting up new plastic recycling units in Special Economic Zones (SEZs), would have to invest a minimum of Rs 1 crore in plant and machinery and export 80 percent of the turnover of their operations, the official said.
The Commerce Ministry is also of the view that the existing plastic waste recycling units should export 50 percent of their turnover.
"Why we should allow people to import plastic waste and dump in India. They have to export over 80 percent of the final product," the official said.
The inter-ministerial Board of Approval (BoA) headed by Commerce Secretary S R Rao, which has discussed the issue on its meeting on July 6, is likely to finalise the rules soon.
The Environment Ministry had expressed apprehensions that certain EoUs (export oriented units) and units in SEZs handling wastes were operating without the mandatory consent and authourisation.
European countries are the largest exporters of the waste to India, which along with China is the primary recycler of plastic waste.
Recycled plastic is used in manufacturing sheets, bags, tarpaulin, agricultural pipes. Most waste is generated in developed countries; the average per capita consumption in the US is 22 kg, Europe 19 kg, while it is only 6 kg in India.
Source : zeenews.india.com