In line with the clarion call given by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, to phase out single-use plastic items by 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on 12 August 2021. Carrying forward the spirit of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava’, a defining step to curb pollution caused by littered and unmanaged plastic waste is being taken by the country. India will ban the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, all across the country from July 1, 2022.
The adverse impacts of littered single-use plastic items plastic on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, including in the marine environments are globally recognized. Addressing pollution due to single-use plastic items has become an important environmental challenge confronting all countries.
List of banned items
As per the latest release from the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the list of items banned includes:
- Earbuds with plastic sticks
- Plastic sticks for balloons
- Plastic flags
- Candy sticks
- Ice- cream sticks
- Polystyrene (Thermocol) for decoration
- Plastic plates, cups, glasses
- Plastic cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays,
- Wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes
- Invitation cards
- Cigarette packets
- Plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron
- Stirrers
From 1 July 2022, national and state-level control rooms will be set up and special enforcement teams will be formed for checking the illegal manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of banned single-use plastic items. States and Union Territories have been asked to set up border check points to stop the inter-state movement of any banned single-use plastic items.
The Government has been taking measures for awareness generation towards the elimination of single-use plastics The awareness campaign has brought together entrepreneurs and startups, industry, Central, State and Local Governments, regulatory bodies, experts, citizen organizations, R& D and academic institutions.
The success of the ban will only be possible through effective engagement and concerted actions by all stakeholders and enthusiastic public participation, believe the Ministry.
