Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses the ban on single-use plastics, outlining measures to strengthen the implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. These measures include constituting task forces, issuing directions to various entities, and establishing online monitoring platforms. The policy also covers extended producer responsibility for multilayered plastic packaging and complete bans on certain plastic products.
Key Points / Main Content:
Strengthening Implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016:
* All States/UTs have formed Special Task Forces, and the Ministry has established a National Level Taskforce.
* Directions issued under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 to State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees, e-commerce companies, single-use plastic sellers/users, and plastic raw material manufacturers.
* Customs authorities directed to stop the import of banned SUP items.
Monitoring and Enforcement:
* National Dashboard, CPCB Monitoring Module, and CPCB Grievance Redressal App are in operation for effective monitoring.
* States/UTs directed to conduct regular enforcement drives, including seizure of banned items and levying penalties.
* Inspections have resulted in the seizure of 1976 tonnes of banned single-use plastic items and the levy of Rs. 19.8 crores in fines.
Bans and Restrictions:
* States/UTs have issued notifications/orders for complete or partial bans on plastic carry bags and/or identified single-use plastic items.
* Complete ban on sachets using plastic material for gutkha, tobacco, and pan masala.
* Prohibition on manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of identified Single Use Plastic (SUP) items with low utility and high littering potential, effective from July 1, 2022.
* Prohibition on manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than one hundred and twenty microns, effective from December 31, 2022.
* Non-woven plastic carry bags of less than 60 GSM are prohibited from September 30, 2021.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR):
* Multilayered plastic packaging using metalized layers or aluminum foil is covered under EPR guidelines, notified on February 16, 2022.
* Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) have EPR for plastic packaging introduced by them in the market, with 100% EPR target since 2023-24.
* Central Pollution Control Board/State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committees verify compliance of PIBOs through inspection and audit.
* Environmental Compensation levied on PIBOs for non-fulfilment of EPR targets based on the polluter pays principle.
Impact Analysis:
States and Union Territories:
* Impact: Required to constitute Special Task Forces, conduct enforcement drives, and implement bans.
* Action Required: Form Task Forces, conduct regular inspections, and enforce penalties for violations.
State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees:
* Impact: Responsible for setting up institutional mechanisms for enforcement and verifying compliance of PIBOs.
* Action Required: Establish enforcement mechanisms and conduct inspections and audits of PIBOs.
E-commerce Companies, Single Use Plastic Sellers/Users, and Plastic Raw Material Manufacturers:
* Impact: Required to phase out identified single-use plastic items.
* Action Required: Implement measures to eliminate identified SUP items.
Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs):
* Impact: Subject to Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging.
* Action Required: Meet EPR targets for plastic packaging and comply with verification processes.
Customs Authorities:
* Impact: Responsible for preventing the import of banned SUP items.
* Action Required: Monitor and stop the import of prohibited single-use plastic items.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies.
Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: Indian regulations aimed at managing plastic waste, which are being strengthened and implemented.
Single Use Plastic: Plastic items intended to be used only once before being disposed of or recycled.
Environment Protection Act, 1986: An act of the Parliament of India enacted in 1986. With the objective of providing for the protection and improvement of the environment and for matters connected therewith
Central Pollution Control Board: A statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change responsible for pollution control.
Extended Producer Responsibility: Environmental policy approach in which producers are given a significant responsibility – financial and/or organisational – for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products
Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021: Amendment to Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, prohibiting manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified Single Use Plastic SUP items
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: A union territory of India where a complete ban on plastic carry bags is in effect since 2010.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1245
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Ban on Single-use Plastics
1245: SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the monitoring system to control the use of banned plastic items is not
effective;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor, State-wise;
(c) the details of the States where single-use plastic has been completely banned, State-
wise;
(d) the details of the strict measures taken/being taken by the Government to prevent the
use of aluminum coated materials; and
(e) the other steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to completely ban the
single-use plastic?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b): The following steps have been taken to strengthen implementation of Plastic Waste
Management Rules, 2016 and to implement ban on identified Single Use Plastic items:
(i) All thirty-six States/UTs have constituted the Special Task Force under the
chairpersonship of the Chief Secretary / Administrator for elimination of identified single use
Plastic items and effective plastic waste management. A National Level Taskforce has also
been constituted by the Ministry for taking coordinated efforts to eliminate identified single
use plastic items and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
(ii) Directions have been issued under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
for setting up of institutional mechanism for enforcement of provisions of Plastic Waste
Management Rules, 2016 to all State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees.
Directions have also been issued to E-commerce companies, leading Single Use Plastic
sellers/users, and plastic raw material manufacturers with respect to phasing out of identified
single use plastic items. Separately, custom authorities have been asked to stop the import of
banned SUP items.
(iii) For effective monitoring of ban on identified Single Use Plastic items and plastic waste
management in the country, the following online platforms are in operation: (a) National
Dashboard for monitoring of comprehensive action plan implementation, (b) CPCB
Monitoring Module for Compliance on Elimination of Single Use Plastic, and (c) CPCB
Grievance Redressal App.(iv) States and Union Territories have been asked to undertake regular enforcement drives to
implement ban on identified single use plastic items and on plastic carry bags having thickness
less than one hundred twenty microns covering fruit and vegetable markets, wholesale markets,
local markets, flower vendors, units manufacturing plastic carry bags etc. Actions have been
taken by concerned authorities on the deviations, which include seizure of banned single use
plastic items and levy of penalty. As per details provided by SPCB/PCC and details available
at SUP compliance monitoring portal, a total of 8,61,335 inspections have been conducted and
1976 tonnes of banned single use plastic items have been seized and a total of Rs. 19.8 crores
of fine has been levied.
(c) As per CPCB Annual Report, States / UTs have issued notifications/orders introducing
regulations pertaining to complete or partial ban on plastic carry bags and/or identified single-
use plastic items, over and above the Plastic Waste Management Rules. The details are
annexed.
(d) Multilayered plastic packaging using metalised layers or aluminum foil used for plastic
packaging is covered under the Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for
Plastic Packaging notified on 16th February 2022. As per the Guidelines, the Producers,
Importers and Brand owners (PIBOs) have extended producer responsibility for the plastic
packaging introduced by them in the market in order to ensure environmentally sound
management of the product until end of its life. The PIBOs have 100 % of EPR target for plastic
packaging introduced in the market since 2023-24. This covers plastic packaging made using
metalized layers or aluminum foils. The Central Pollution Control Board/ State Pollution
Control Board / Pollution Control Committees are mandated by itself or through a designated
agency shall verify compliance of Producers, Importers & Brand-Owners through inspection
and periodic audit, as deemed appropriate. As per EPR Guidelines Environmental
Compensation shall be levied based upon polluter pays principle with respect to non-fulfilment
of EPR targets by PIBOs.
(e) As per Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, there is complete ban on sachets using
plastic material used for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala. Further,
the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Plastic Waste
Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on 12th August 2021, prohibiting manufacture, import,
stocking, distribution, sale and use of the identified Single Use Plastic (SUP) items, which have
low utility and high littering potential with effect from the 1st July, 2022. The notification also
prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having
thickness less than one hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022.
Non-woven plastic carry bags of less than 60 gram per sqm (GSM) are also prohibited from
30th September 2021.
***Annexure
Notification for banning manufacture, use, sale import and handling of Plastic carry
bags / items
(Based on the data available in Annual reports submitted by SPCBs/PCCs)
Complete or
S. Name of Executive order Date
Partial Remarks
No State/UT and No.
Ban
1 Andaman & Complete Date: 02.08.2010 Complete ban on
Nicobar Islands ban manufacture, store,
Notification No.: 202 import, distribution,
transportation,
recycle, sell & use of
plastic
Carry bags.
2 Andhra Not available Certain Urban Local
Pradesh Bodies like
Tadipatri,
Vijayawada,
Tirupati & Bobbili
have put Ban on
Plastic carry bags
irrespective of their
thickness. All local
bodies have taken
stand on ban on their
own.
3 Arunachal Partial ban Date: 16.07.2019 Complete ban on
Pradesh manufacture, store,
Notification No.: stock, sale of plastic
FOR.129/E(A)/2019/1 <50 microns.
271 3-60
4 Assam Notification not
available
5 Bihar Complete Date: 24.10.2018 Complete ban on
ban Notifications No. 943 manufacture, store,
(urban)Dated import, distribution,
11.12.2018 transportation,
Notification 1043 recycle, sell & use of
plastic carrybags
(irrespective
Of thickness)
6 Chandigarh Complete Notification No. Complete ban on
ban ED/2019/1648 manufacture, storage,
Dated import, sale, use
27.09. transportation &
2019 disposal of plastic
items
7 Chhattisgarh Complete Notification F 5- Complete ban on
ban 7/18/2011 manufacture, store,dated 24.12.2014 import,
(Gazette) transportation,
recycle, sell & use of
Date: 27-09-2017 polythene/plastic
Notification carrybags.
No.:(cid:354)माााांकएफ 05-
88/2014/32 Further for banned
short life PVC and
chlorinated plastic
8 Daman Diu & Complete Notification No. Forbidding the use,
Dadra Nagar ban PCC/DMN/PLASTIC sale/ storage of all
Haveli Bags/12-13/473 kinds of plastic bags
Dated 24.01.2014
9 Delhi Information not available No executive order
additional to PWM
Rules have been
issued
10 Goa Complete Amendment bill The Goa Government imposed
ban nob-biodegradable ban on Manufacture,
garbage stock, import,
transportation,
Dated :08.08.2019 recycle, sale & use of
plastic (carrybags,
cups, forks, paper
plates, spoons)
And other non-
biodegradable items.
11 Gujarat Notification No:
Vl,l(14/Env-10- 2008-
2100-E
Dated 25th June,
201 l
12 Haryana Complete Date: 20 Aug, 2013 Complete ban on
ban manufacture, stock,
import,
transportation,
recycle, sell & use of
plastic carrybags,
13 Himachal Complete Complete ban on use
Pradesh Ban of Carrybags
(irrespective of size),
polythene, non-
biodegradable
material, disposable
plastic cups, plates,
and glasses
14 Jammu & Partial ban Notification: SRO-45 of Partial ban on
Kashmir 2017 dated :03.02.2017 Polyethene carry bags
of thickness below 50
microns15 Jharkhand Complete Notification no 3/Praya Complete ban on
Ban Pradu- 52/2007- 3900 manufacture, import,
Dated 15.09.2017 storage, transport, sell
and usage of
plastic carrybags in
the whole State
16 Karnataka Complete Date: 11-03-2016 State government
ban banned the plastic
Notification No.: FEE banners, buntings,
17EPC 2012, Bengalru carrybags (plastic &
compostable), cups,
cling films, flex,
flags, plates, spoons
& sheets made of
plastic or Thermocol
and
microbeads usage in
the entire state
17 Kerala Complete Notification No.: Complete ban on
ban G.O.(Ms)No.6/2019Env Single use plastic And
dated 27-11-2019 plastic carrybags
(plastic and
G.O.(M/s) No. compostable )
2/2020/ENVT
dated 27-01-2020
GOno. GO(Ms) No.
4/2020
Envt dated 16-02-2020
18 Lakshadweep Complete Date: 25.01.2019 Complete ban on
ban Single use plastic
Notification No.: includes:
F.No.66/33/2019 Plastic carrybags of
all thickness, plastic
coated carry bags,
plastic flags, plastic
sheets/films used for
wrapping, plastic
sheets used as dining
table covers,
thermocol cups and
plates, plastic coated
paper cups and plates,
plastic teacups, plastic
tumblers, plastic
teacups, water
pouches/packets/PET
plastic water bottles,
straws,19 Madhya Pradesh Complete Notification : F5-2-2015- Production, Storage,
ban 18-5 Dated :24.05.2017 Transportation, sale &
use of plastic
carrybags.
20 Maharashtra Complete No Plastic- complete
Ban 2018/C.R.24/TC- 4 ban on certain plastic
products like i) plastic
Notification, dated bags with or without
23.3.2018 handle irrespective of
and amendment dated size
11.4.2018, 30.6.2018 & and thickness, single
14.06.2019 use diposable items
like
cups, plates, straws,
spoons etc,
Nonwoven
Polypropylene
bags through
Maharashtra Plastic
and
Thermocol Products
(Manufacture, Usage,
Sale, Transport,
Handling and
Storage)
21 Manipur Complete Date: 12-09-2017 Complete ban on use,
ban store & sale of plastic
Notification No.: carrybags
56/38/99- for&Envt
22 Meghalaya Partial ban Date: 16-02-2017 Use and sale of plastic
bags less than 50
Notification No. microns has been
MPCB/TB- 144(B)/2016- prohibited and public
2017/79 notice has been
issued
23 Mizoram Partial ban With effect from Complete ban on
:01.08.2019 by Aizal plastic carry bags
municipal below 50 microns
corporation
24 Nagaland Partial ban Date: 29th Nov, 2018 Complete ban on
single use plastic less
Notification No.: UDD/7- than 50 microns,
GEN/07-PWM/2018
25 Odisha Complete Notification Order No. Polythene carry bags
ban 18441, thickness of any shape
Dt. 30.09.2019 and size has been
banned in all
Municipal limits in
the State.
Govt. of Odisha.Further in the said
order State has been
prohibited (use
polythene sheets of
less than50 micron
thickness for storing,
transporting,
dispensing or
packaging of any
articles, commodity
or food items)
26 Puducherry Complete Not Available total ban on single use
ban plastics with effect
from 02.08.2019.
27 Punjab Complete Notification no Complete ban on
ban 5/18/2016- 4lg4/692717/1 Manufacture, stock,
dated 18.02.2016 distribute, recycle,
sale & use of plastic
carrybags.
S.O.438/P.A.
9/1994/S30/2016 dated
29.03.2016
28 Rajasthan Complete Notification dated : Complete ban on use,
ban 21.07.2010 store & sale of plastic
carrybags
29 Sikkim Complete Notification No.: Complete ban on sale
ban GOS/UD&HD97- & use, storage of
98/6(85) plastic carry bags
Date: 04-06-1998
30 Tamil Nadu Complete Date: 25.06.2018 Complete ban on
Ban manufacture, sell, use,
Notification No.: G.O. storage,
(Ms). No.84 dated Transportation and
25.06.2018 distribution of
“Single- use plastics”
i.e. plastic carrybags,
flags, sheets using for
food wrapping,
straws, tea cups,
tumblers, water
packets & pouches
31 Telangana Not Not Banned
Banned32 Tripura Complete Notification Complete ban on Sell,
ban no:F.B(30)/DSTE/ENV/P use, storage,
t- Transportation &
II//1679-97 dated import of plastic
10.03.2015 carrybags (including
polypropylene, non-
woven fabric type)
plastic tube to pack or
cover any book
including magazine &
invitation/greeting
cards.
33 Uttar Pradesh Complete Date: 15-07-2018 Manufacture, Sell,
ban use, Storage,
Notification No. 1056/9- Transportation &
7-18- 29(Lucknow)/18 import of plastic
carrybags of thickness
50 microns and cups,
bowl, container,
tumblers, glasses &
plates etc made of
plastic or thermocol
34 Uttarakhand Complete Date: 25.01.2017 Manufacture, Sell,
Ban use, Storage,
Notification No. 88/x-3- Transportation &
17- 13(11)/2001 import of plastic
carrybags,cups, bowl,
container, tumblers,
glasses & plates etc
made of plastic or
thermocol
35 West Bengal Not available Restricted use & sale
of plastic carry bags
in ecologically fragile
areas and in certain
heritage & tourist
spots