Govt bans manufacture, sale, use of identified single-use plastic items from next year

New Delhi, August 14: Showing its commitment towards the environment, the Narendra Modi government banned the manufacturing, sale, and use of all single-use plastic items like cups, plates, and straws from next year.

 

Issuing the notification Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rule 2021 on Friday and govt prohibited the identified the single use plastic items by July 22.

The notification reads," The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities shall be prohibited with effect from July 1, 2022."

 

The single-use plastic items include earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration; plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays; wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.

 

 

 

Apart from it, the central government also increased the thickness of polythene bags from 50 microns to 120 microns. According to the notification, the change in thickness of the polythene bags will be implemented in two phases.

 

In the first phase, plastic bags less than 75 microns will be banned from September 30, while in the second phase bags of less than 120 microns will be banned from December 31, 2022.

  

Moreover, the non-woven plastic carry bags should not be less than 60 grams per square meter (GSM) with effect from September 30, 2021, the notification said.

 

 

 

The thickness guidelines will not apply to carry bags made of compostable plastic. The manufacturers of these bags or brand owners that use them will be required to obtain a certificate from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) before selling or using them.

 

It should be noted that three years ago in 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that India will eliminate all single-use plastics in the country by 2022.

 

Even during the fourth United Nations Environment Assembly held in 2019, India piloted a resolution on addressing single-use plastic products pollution, recognising the urgent need for the global community to focus on this issue.

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