Import of plastic waste banned from August this year:

The government has banned import of plastic waste from August 2019, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in Rajya Sabha Monday while listing out steps taken to curb pollution.

Replying to a query during Question Hour, the minister informed that about 20,000 tonnes of plastic wastes get generated every day in the country and out of that only 13,000-14000 tonnes are collected.

"We have taken a decision to ban imports of plastic waste from August 2019," Javadekar said.

The minister highlighted various steps taked by the government to protect environment and control air pollution.

Through school nursery, he said, children are taught to grow trees.

After the successful pilot projects, the government is taking up this on a large scale.

That apart, he said the government has taken a decision on fencing urban forest area and then converting them into forest with peoples participation.

Javadekar said the Centre has already notified six waste management rules in 2016, ...