Ban On Single Use Plastics From July 1

If you are going shopping, remember to carry a cloth, jute or a paper bag from July 1. Don't expect plastic bags from the shopkeepers, hotels, vegetable vendors, medical stores etc. as usual. The reason is that the Centre has imposed a ban on the production, use, possession, sale, distribution and import of use-and-throw (single use) plastics, with effect from tomorrow.

All types of plastic items below 100 microns in thickness and difficult for re-cycling are being prohibited, and if anybody is found producing and selling such plastics, their license will be cancelled.

The ban has been imposed taking into consideration the dangers of plastics to human beings, animals, the water bodies including the seas, the earth and the environment.

The banned items include ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks used in balloons, plastic flags, plastic sticks used in chocolates and ice creams, thermocool used in decoration, plastic wrapping on cigarette boxes, and plastic plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, sweet boxes and invitation cards.

Realising the serious crisis being created by plastics for the health of humans and animals and to the environment, almost all countries have now started taking stringent measures to ban them. Bangladesh was the first country to ban plastic bags, in 2002 itself, and New Zealand followed suit in 2019. China imposed a ban in 2020. As many as 68 countries have banned plastics so far.

It is estimated that 1.13 crore tons of single-use plastics are produced every year in India, of which 29 lakh tons are exported.

However, though the Centre has banned single-use plastics from July 1, it seems that the authorities of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation have so far not announced any steps to ensure that the ban is enforced with sincerity. Awareness programs among traders and consumers have not been initiated in right earnest so far, it is being reported.