Amid strong protests from within, the government is planning to liberalise the import of plastic waste for recycling in special economic zones (SEZs), despite the fact that most of the recycled waste are now sold to Indian buyers instead of re-exporting them as per rules.
The commerce ministry?s proposal is to allow import of plastic waste or scrap with the condition that the importer would physically export half of its recycled output. The rest would come to the local market for the time being.
Chemicals and fertilisers minister MK Alagiri and environment minister Jairam Ramesh have strongly voiced their opposition to allowing new plastic recycling units in SEZs. According to commerce ministry, new plastic recycling units and expansion of existing ones would generate the much needed employment for people. The worry of protesting ministries is that medical and hazardous waste will flow into the country from the West.