The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, (MoEFCC) on July 26, 2024, issued a notification regarding the Compulsory ban on polythene bags. The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, notified on August 12, 2021, introduced significant regulations to curb single-use plastic items.
The following has been stated-
•Effective from July 1, 2022, specific single-use plastic items identified for their low utility and high littering potential are banned.
•Manufacture, import, stock, distribution, sell, and use of plastic carry bags with a thickness of less than 120 microns are prohibited from December 31, 2022.
•Non-woven plastic carry bags less than 60 grams per square meter (GSM) are banned from September 30, 2021.
•Directions issued under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, prohibit plastic raw material manufacturers from supplying materials for banned single-use plastics and plastic carry bags less than 120 microns in thickness.
•Based on data from Annual Reports by SPCBs/PCCs, notifications for banning the manufacture, use, sale, import, and handling of plastic carry bags and items have been issued to strengthen the overall management and reduction of plastic waste across the country.
[Notification No. 2036730]
