IB Economics- Commentary Planning Sheet - 2022

Commentary writing
date (articles to be
searched within one
year prior to this
date)
Unit:
Title of Article: Ban on single-use plastic items comes into effect from
today

Source: Hindustan Times

Link: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ban-on-single-use-
plastic-items-comes-into-effect-101656649772024.html
Country: INDIA
Date of article: Jul 01, 2022 10:02 AM IST
Date of access to
website or source
Key concept

Article
Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday said the notification for the
ban was issued in August last year and manufacturers were given one year to prepare

The ban on single-use plastic items, including wrapping or packaging films, plastic
cutlery, straws, and plastic sticks for balloons and earbuds, came into effect on Friday
even as manufacturer associations have said they are not prepared to implement it
immediately due to a lack of alternatives.

Manufacturing, import, stocking, distribution, and sale of the items are now also
prohibited while the thickness of plastic carry bags will have to be increased from 75
microns to 120 microns from December 31.
Ahead of the ban implementation, the Union environment ministry officials on Thursday
held a meeting with representatives of 82 cities over the elimination of single-use plastic
items as well as air quality management.
Officials said the representatives were briefed about the ban and requested to lead teams
for its enforcement within their jurisdictions. They were also requested to help
stakeholders including traders, distributors, retailers as well as consumers to switch over
to alternatives to the banned items.
Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday said the notification for the
ban was issued in August last year and manufacturers were given one year to prepare.
Yadav said only those items that have low utility, high littering potential, and for which
alternatives are available are being phased out for now. He added Micro, Small, and
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) affected are free to diversify.

The Union environment ministry notified the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment)
Rules, 2021, under the Environment Protection (EP) Act on August 12, 2021. It said a
violation of the ban will lead to all punitive actions prescribed under the Act.
Additional secretary (environment ministry) Naresh Pal Gangwar said punitive action can
be taken for stocking, distribution, sale, manufacture, and use of these items. Gangwar
said all manufacturers and stockists were directed to have zero inventory by June 30.

The EP Act provides for imprisonment for up to five years with a fine which may extend
to ₹1 lakh, or both. In case the violations under it continue, an additional fine may extend
to ₹5000 for every day. The penalty can increase further if the violations continue beyond
a year. There are different penalties for companies, organisations, and government
departments under the EP Act.
Officials said vendors are free to choose anything non-plastic or items made of
biodegradable/compostable plastics as alternatives.

States such as Maharashtra have their legislation prohibiting single-use plastic products.
Officials said such bans were ineffective earlier because transport of single-use plastic
and trade across the borders could not be stopped and that a national ban provides much
more power to states.

According to the All-India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), 88,000 MSMEs

across the country produce single-use plastic items and employ around one million
people, who will lose their livelihoods due to the ban.
AIPMA has questioned the viability of alternatives such as biodegradable polymers and
said they have to be produced at large scale first and the cost should be comparable and it
is not feasible. It maintained alternatives do not necessarily provide the same
functionality, not to mention availability of raw materials to produce them.

Officials said vendors are free to choose anything non-plastic or items made of
biodegradable/compostable plastics as alternatives.
States such as Maharashtra have their legislation prohibiting single-use plastic products.
Officials said such bans were ineffective earlier because transport of single-use plastic
and trade across the borders could not be stopped and that a national ban provides much
more power to states.

According to the All-India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), 88,000 MSMEs

across the country produce single-use plastic items and employ around one million
people, who will lose their livelihoods due to the ban.
AIPMA has questioned the viability of alternatives such as biodegradable polymers and
said they have to be produced at large scale first and the cost should be comparable and it

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 is not feasible. It maintained alternatives do not necessarily provide the same
functionality, not to mention availability of raw materials to produce them.

The overall aim is to use your economics knowledge to explain an event or issue in the
world around us.

Which economic theory is relevant to the discussion of the article?

Important terms in the article or related to

the article that would require definition:

Identify Key Concept(s) that links to the low utility,

article. (Max 3).
Identify the one Key Concept that you think identifies the most and why? (think how
it impacts individuals/societies)

What issue is discussed in the article?

- Ban on single use plastic

What diagram(s) could you draw to illustrate this issue? Sketch them.

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(Avoid having extra diagrams unless you really feel that it will strengthen your paper.)
Diagram to illustrate a problem Diagram to show the suggested policy
solution

Explain below the dynamic nature of diagrams drawn above. Use economic theory to
explain the dynamic nature.

Now, evaluate this issue. Consider the following -

● If there is a policy solution, is it likely to solve the problem?
● What are the likely effects, both positive and negative, in the short and the
long run, on various stakeholders?
● If you can, rank the impacts from biggest to least, with reasons.
● Can you consider another point of view?
● Can you weigh the costs and benefits of an action or policy.
● Lastly, for the best sort of evaluation, how does this instance reflect on
economic theory itself? Does what happened or what is suggested in your
news article accord with what economic theory suggests should happen? If
not, why not?

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