Environmental activists blame civic our bodies and the Pollution Control Board for a scarcity of enforcement, regardless that Karnataka was the primary State in India to cross a regulation in opposition to using plastic. In 2016, the Forest, Ecology, and Environment Secretariat imposed a ban on the manufacture, provide, sale, and use of SUP below the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Five years later, the Union Ministry adopted with a blanket ban. Items reminiscent of carry luggage, banners, flex, flags, cutlery, cling movies, thermocol, balloons, invitation playing cards, straws, and PVC banners had been prohibited. Yet, these things stay in on a regular basis use.
According to the United Nations, 2,000 rubbish vans’ price of plastic leads to oceans, rivers, and lakes daily. Globally, 19–23 million tonnes of plastic leak into aquatic ecosystems yearly.
Karnataka produces a mean of three.6 lakh tonnes of plastic waste every year, about 1,000 tonnes each day, in keeping with the State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). Between 2021 and 2024, annual manufacturing ranged from 3.45 lakh tonnes to over 5.28 lakh tonnes. Yet, solely 30% of this waste reaches processing and recycling items, in keeping with a senior KSPCB officer. In Bengaluru alone, out of 500 tonnes of SUP used each day, simply 200 tonnes are processed, and the remainder both attain landfills or break down into microplastics.
Hazards of SUPs
A 2021 research revealed in Environment International revealed, for the primary time, the presence of microplastics in human placenta, highlighting the infiltrating power of plastic.
Meenakshi Bharath, a Bengaluru-based gynaecologist and environmental activist, burdened the well being dangers posed by SUPs. “Often, individuals pour or retailer scorching meals in a plastic bag or field, which ends up in microplastics mixing with the meals and finally reaching the human physique. Microplastics deposit contained in the physique and trigger a large number of well being issues, together with hypothyroidism, inflammations, respiratory points, and extra,” she mentioned.
She identified that plastics in landfills degrade into microplastics (particles smaller than 5 mm), which seep into soil and water, combine with vegetation and organisms, and finally enter the human physique after we devour greens.
A.N. Yellappa Reddy, former Forest Secretary and silviculturist, famous that plastic travels with wind and drains, finally breaking down into smaller items. “When plastic reduces to microplastics, it impacts microbial ecosystems and diminishes them. When such ecosystems are broken, it negatively impacts bigger ecosystems, destabilising environmental steadiness,” he defined.
Yellappa additional mentioned that city cattle and different animals devour plastic, with lethal penalties, as nanoparticles cross by way of the bloodstream and deposit in cells and organs.
Shadow market
While the ban exists, plastic for packaging is permitted below strict pointers by way of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). It mandates producers, importers, and model homeowners (PIBOs) to register on a centralised EPR platform.
In Karnataka, there are 134 registered model homeowners, 353 producers, and 785 importers. For all of the waste produced by these registered businesses and unlawful SUPs, there are solely 129 registered corporations to recycle their output. The put in capability for processing plastic waste in Karnataka is 2.29 lakh tonnes each year. However, most of those items don’t function at full capability, and plenty of stay shuttered.
A well-placed supply in Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd. (BSWML) mentioned that below this cowl, many industries proceed to supply and import SUPs illegally.
“While there are a handful of registered industries, greater than 300 unlawful plastic-producing items are working in Bengaluru. All they want is a 10×10 ft. house for a machine and 10 kWh to twenty kWh of energy,” mentioned Rajesh Babu, a city-based sustainable entrepreneur. “Even the uncooked supplies and chemical substances are simply accessible. So, a makeshift setup brings enormous income for individuals operating such unlawful SUP manufacturing items,” he added.
Virgin plastic granules, titanium dioxide, pink oxide, colourants, calcium carbonate, and different chemical substances are used to fabricate SUP.
Karee Gowda, CEO, Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd., confirmed that some backdoor industries had been discovered to be manufacturing SUP throughout their current inspections. “Not simply producers; throughout our current raids, we discovered importers bringing SUP from different States. There are distributors as properly who ship SUP,” Mr. Gowda mentioned, hinting at a crack down on these networks.
A KSPCB supply listed hotspots for such manufacturing items and sellers: Peenya Industrial Area, Dasarahalli, Kamakshipalya, J.C. Road, S.P. Road, and pockets of the Pete space in central Bengaluru. Further, some sellers imported inventory from Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Ground challenges
To perceive the state of affairs, this reporter visited Kamakshipalya disguised as a bulk purchaser and enquired round industrial pockets. After asking at six locations, one supplier lastly gave the deal with of a producer. When approached, the producer denied having any inventory and claimed no sellers operated close by.
M.G. Yateesh, Senior Environmental Officer at KSPCB, defined that that is the problem they face when appearing on tip-offs. “Even with the slightest suspicion, such sellers again off. They solely promote to individuals inside their trusted community,” he advised The Hindu.
A BSWML supply mentioned that simply two days earlier than this reporter’s go to, they’d raided the identical location.
BSWML’s information corroborate the prevalence of unlawful SUP. Between September 3 and 16, 5,581 institutions had been raided, seizing 30,421 kg of plastic and gathering ₹62.57 lakh in nice.
Why are SUPs in demand?
Economics drives demand. Rajesh says producing 1 kg of SUP prices ₹50–₹80, whereas it sells at ₹300. Alternatives like material or cotton luggage price ₹2 per piece at manufacturing and ₹4–₹5 at sale. Retailers and wholesalers want SUP, because it’s cheaper and handy.
A fruit vendor in Jayanagar, requesting anonymity, defined, “For us, it’s about enterprise and competitors. Many individuals don’t carry their very own luggage, particularly within the evenings whereas returning residence from work, and demand one. If we refuse, they transfer on to a different vendor. It’s about buyer comfort.”
When questioned, 4 out of seven individuals in the identical market in Jayanagar both thought the ban on plastic had been lifted or had been unaware of it.
V. Ramprasad, an knowledgeable in strong waste administration, stresses that lack of enforcement has allowed SUP to flourish. “These businesses act solely once they obtain a tip-off. This menace is multi-layered, with stakeholders at each degree,” he says.
Ban enforcement
Ramprasad’s considerations are mirrored in enforcement information. Across Karnataka, KSPCB and municipal our bodies inspected 1,65,964 institutions, seizing 1,012 metric tonnes of plastic within the final three years.
Although the numbers look substantial, enthusiasm for enforcement declined inside a yr after the Centre handed the regulation. Officials raided 1,25,661 institutions in 2022–2023, instantly after the ban. Raids dropped to 22,192 in 2023–2024 and additional to 18,111 in 2024–2025.
However, M.G. Yateesh, Senior Environmental Officer at KSPCB, maintained that they actively act on tip-offs along with shock checks.
Another KSPCB official famous that enforcement is especially difficult in rural areas, which explains the less raids. “Usually, rural individuals carry luggage, because the santhe (weekly market) system remains to be lively. However, they not often cooperate throughout raids,” he mentioned. “There’s additionally a extreme scarcity of discipline workers. One individual is doing the work of 4,” he added.
Policy gaps
Nalini Shekar, co-founder of Hasiru Dala, mentioned that correct segregation of strong waste would enhance the quantity of plastic reaching processing items, stressing the crucial position of ragpickers.
Karee Gowda agreed that there’s a lack of coverage to finish the cycle of waste assortment, segregation, and processing. This problem could be addressed, he famous.
Yellappa added that the absence of consciousness drives contributes to continued SUP use. Civic our bodies, he mentioned, ought to conduct consciousness campaigns, educate youngsters, and strengthen present legal guidelines by including stricter punishments for offenders.
Meanwhile, after the formation of 5 new companies in Bengaluru, the brand new commissioners have burdened common inspections and drives in opposition to SUPs. BSWML has shaped 27 groups below senior officers to conduct checks, with help from marshals.
It stays to be seen whether or not a brand new administrative set-up for Bengaluru can beat the problem that its predecessors didn’t.
