Govt bans single-use plastics from July ’22

The government has banned the use of select single-use plastics items with effect from July 2022. In a notification, the environment ministry said the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastics, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities “shall be prohibited”.

The Union government has banned the use of select single-use plastic items, with effect from July 2022. In a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) said the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities “shall be prohibited”.

Among the prohibited items are ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, icecream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery (forks, spoons, knives, straw, and trays), wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron and stirrers. The ministry has also notified an increase in the thickness of plastic bags, aiming to reduce littering of plastic. “With effect from September 30, 2021, the thickness of plastic carry bags has been increased to 75 microns from 50 microns, and to 120 microns with effect from the December 31, 2022. This will also allow reuse of plastic carry due to increase in thickness,” said a statement from the MOEFCC. According to the notification, the Centre has asked the states/union Territories to constitute a Special Task Force for elimination of single-use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

MOEFCC said a ‘National Level Taskforce’ has also been set up for taking coordinated efforts to eliminate identified single use plastic item.