Single-use plastic items banned in UT

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 27

The Environment Department of the UT Administration today issued a notification imposing a complete ban on single-use plastic items in the city.

As per the notification, no person, including shopkeeper, vendor, wholesaler, retailer, trader, hawker or rehriwala, shall manufacture, store, import, sell, transport, supply or use plastic/thermocol/styrofoam items with immediate effect.

However, certain items such as material used for industrial packaging (of any kind and less than 50 microns), single-use plastic containers used for curd, kheer, ice creams, etc (less than 250 microns), plastic sachets with packaging capacity of 50 ml/50 gm and less, plastic sticks for ear buds, balloons, flags and candies, plastic refill pouch having a quantity less than 500 ml and multi-layered packaging used for food/snacks have been allowed three months time after which a ban will be imposed on these. However, the water bottle has been exempted from the ban.

Those who fail to comply with the orders shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to five years or with a fine which may extend to Rs 1 lakh or with both. Officers can also snap the supply of electricity and water of the defaulter unit.