Environment Ministry Proposes Three-Stage Plan To Ban Single-Use Plastic By 2022; Unveils Draft Rules

Union Ministry of Environment has issued a set of draft rules to ban the use of several categories of single-use plastic items in three stages, starting this year and ending in mid-2022, reports Economic Times.

The first set of rules for plastic bags have been proposed to come into force from 30 September onwards. The draft rules propose that each sheet of non-woven plastic carry bag shall not be less than 60 (GSM per square metre) or 240 microns in thickness and that a carry bag made of virgin or recycled plastic shall not be less than 120 microns.

The second set of the proposed rules would come into force on 1 January 2022, banning the sale, use, manufacturing, stocking, import and distribution of six categories of items which use single-use plastic including earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration.

The third and final stage would thereafter kick-in on 1 July 2022 banning the single-use plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping/packing films around sweet boxes; invitation cards; cigarette packets, plastic/PVC banners less than 100 micron and stirrers.

The ministry has invited feedback and suggestions on the draft rules in 60 days, following which the final rules will be notified after assessing the feedback received.