Written by Notification on Ban on the use of Single use Plastics by the Union Environment Ministry
A ban on the use of single-use plastics that was notified by the Union Environment Ministry on August 2021 came into effect on July 1 this year
According to the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021 notified by the Central Government, the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following single-use plastics including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene will be prohibited with effect from July 1, 2022.
> Ear buds 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 packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns and stirrers
Penalties under Plastic & Thermocol Notification
As per the Act, failure to comply with the provisions is punishable with imprisonment which may extend to five years with a fine which may extend to Rs 1 lakh or with both.
In case the violations are repeated, an additional fine which may extend to five thousand rupees for every day during which such violation continuous may be imposed. Link for an illustrated guide book published by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board is given below: