India to Ban Use of Six Single-Use Plastic Products

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): India has announced ban on as many as six single-use plastic products as part of its efforts to abolish use of such plastics by 2022. The ban, applicable for plastic bags, cups, plates, small bottles, straws and certain types of sachets, will be in effect starting Oct 2- the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi- the Father of the Nation.

According to officials, the ban will be comprehensive and will cover manufacturing, usage and import of such items. The drive will be led by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Housing in India. The ban is expected to reduce the country’s annual plastic consumption by 5-10%. In addition, the government is likely to push for reduced use of plastic packaging by e-commerce companies. Incidentally, e-commerce packaging accounts for nearly 40% of the country’s annual plastic consumption.

Those found violating the rules will be faced with stringent penalties and punishments. However, these will come into force only after six months, thereby allowing people to adjust with environment-friendly alternatives to plastic packaging.