Single-use plastic ban comes into effect: List of banned daily-use items

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jul 1, 2022 | Kabir Chakraborty

According to the ministry, the manufacturing of single-use plastics employs close to 200,000 people directly and another 450,000 indirectly.

Digital Desk: The
government's ban on single-use plastics went into force on Friday despite
requests from business organisations for a gradual implementation rather than a
complete ban. The state governments will launch an enforcement campaign and
shut down facilities involved in the manufacturing, distribution, stockpiling,
and sale of single-use plastics, according to the Union Environment Ministry,
in an effort to ensure a seamless implementation of the ban on the material.

The Plastic Waste
Management Amendment Rules, 2021, were announced by the Ministry of
Environment, Forests, and Climate Change in August of last year.

The regulations call for a
ban on the production, importation, warehousing, distribution, sale, and use of
single-use plastic items beginning July 1. This business is worth Rs 10,000
crore. The stiff plastic utensils such plates, cups, glasses, cutlery, wrapping
or packing films, PVC banners smaller than 100 microns, straws, and stirrers
would all be covered by the rule.

According to the ministry,
the manufacturing of single-use plastics employs close to 200,000 people
directly and another 450,000 indirectly.

On Wednesday, Union
Environment Minister Bhupinder Yadav announced a postponement of the ban
"The FMCG sector's cooperation is something we anticipate. We would
encourage the micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) to stop
producing single-use plastics and start producing alternatives. We would do
awareness campaigns. The government is committed to the effort and won't back down."

Numerous FMCG companies
and eateries hurried to comply with the single-use plastic prohibition,
claiming that they were unable to afford replacements to plastic utensils,
straws, and containers. FMCG companies have claimed that the restriction on single-use
plastic will ultimately push up the price of finished goods.

mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">What commodities are prohibited starting on Friday,
July 1?

mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">On Friday, certain items that contain single-use
plastic will no longer be sold. These include utensils including plates, cups, glasses,
forks, spoons, knives, trays, and other objects. Earbuds, balloon sticks,
cigarette packs, sweet boxes, candy and ice cream sticks, invitation cards,
polystyrene used for decorations and PVC banners smaller than 100 microns are
other items that are prohibited.

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