Frequently Ask Questions

The Ministry had notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, vide GSR NO. 571 (E) on 12th August 2021, in the Gazette of India, to ban identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1st July 2022.

The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following single- use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities is prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022:-

• (a) ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration;
• (b) plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.

The banned single use plastic items were identified based upon recommendations of Expert Committee on Single Use Plastics constituted by Department of Chemical and Petrochemicals, Government of India

The banned single use plastic items have low utility and high littering potential. The alternatives of the banned single use plastic items are commercially available.

The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than seventy-five microns with effect from 30th September, 2021, and having thickness less than thickness of one hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022. The prohibition of light weight plastic carry bags will allow for better collection of plastic carry bags.

• 1. In line with the clarion call of the Hon'ble Prime Minister for phasing out single use plastic items by 2022, a notification was issued on 12th August 2021, for phasing out identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1st July 2022.
• 2. Plastic packaging waste, which is not covered under the phase out of identified single use plastic items, is collected and managed in an environmentally

sustainable way through the Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging notified on 16th February 2022

• • The single use plastics items being banned have commercially available alternatives.
• • The scale of production of alternatives and their cost will come down as soon as their demand increases.
• • The alternatives made from eco-friendly materials are being manufactured and are commercially available.
• • The Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises has also taken steps to provide support to enterprises manufacturing alternatives.
• • The State and UT Governments have been requested to provide incentives manufacture of alternatives.
• • The Government of India is also promoting innovative ideas on alternatives to single use plastic items.
• • Several awareness campaigns and workshops were held in various parts of the country involving different stakeholders conveying the message of the ban and also spreading awareness on the alternatives available.

• • The single use plastics items being banned have commercially available alternatives.
• • The penetration of the alternatives will increase accordingly and the market itself will pick up on these alternatives.
• • The number of testing facilities are being expanded. Provisional standard for biodegradable plastics has been notified by BIS recently.

• • Plastic is a commonly available product and petro- based plastic products are comparatively cheaper.
• • The alternatives may be more expensive as long as the SUP items exist in the market. With the ban coming into effect, the scale of production of alternatives will go up and their cost will come down.
• • To encourage, the transition from manufacturing of banned SUP items, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is providing support to enterprises under various schemes of the Ministry

Indicative list of commercially available alternatives to banned single-use

S. No.	Banned SUP items	Alternatives
	Cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives	Plant based derivatives like bamboo cutlery, agricultural and plant biomass based cutlery, wooden products
	Trays	Plantain leaves, eco based trays,  paper trays,   areca   leaf   plates,   glass/metal
	Straws, stirrers	Paper  based  straw,          Compostable plastic, Biodegradable plastic straws, beverage cartons with spouts
	Ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloon, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks	Paper/Cloth flags, Bamboo cotton ear buds, compostable plastic and biodegradable plastic-based sticks
	Wrapping film around s w e e t     b o x e s ,  i n v i t a t i o n c a r d s , cigarette packs	Paper   rolls,   Biodegradable   plastic, Compostable plastic   Standard for testing of biodegradability has been notified

• • Single-use plastic items have adverse impacts on the environment when littered and left unmanaged.
• • As responsible citizens, we must all contribute in our own ways and strive to make this ban a success and switch to SUP alternatives.
• • Reuse products as much as possible.
• • Segregation at source and avoiding littering are integral aspects to improving the management of plastic waste in the country
• • Behavioral change is a key aspect when it comes to handling SUP items and a conscious effort can go a long way.
• • Industries can lead the change by transitioning to manufacturing alternatives supporting the ban and protecting the environment.
• • This country is a land of innovators and this can be seen through the number of startups that have come up in the last few years developing SUP alternatives.
• • A collective effort by everyone can pave the way to ensuring a greener environment for tomorrow.

• • CPCB Monitoring Module for Compliance on Elimination of SUP for monitoring compliance on Elimination of SUP (Already 4005 ULBs registered)
• • Linked with SUP Field application App allow direct uploading of field verification reports
• • CPCB Grievance Redressal App
• • Empowers Citizens to Act as Watchdog to Curb Plastic menace
• • Enables Direct Lodging & Tracking of SUP Related Complaints with On-site pictures.
• • Bringing concerned Authorities on-Board for timely resolution of the Complaints
• • All the States/UTs have constituted a Special Task Force under Chairpersonship of Chief Secretary/Advisor for elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016
• • A National Level Taskforce has also been constituted by the Ministry to ensure the implementation of the ban on single use plastic from 1st July 2022.

• • A Tentative/ Provisional Indian Standard has been notified by Bureau a of Indian Standards for the assessment of biodegradability of plastics in varied conditions and was published on 17th June 2022.

• • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, organized a series of awareness programme to avoid the use of single-use plastics across the country, as part of Iconic Week celebrations from 4th to 10th October, 2021, under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• • A six month long Awareness Campaign on Single Use Plastic was also organized in 2021
• • In order to spread awareness amongst school students in the country a pan India essay writing competition was also organized.
• • The Ministry organized India Plastic Challenge - Hackathon 2021, to encourage innovation in development of alternatives to identified single use plastic items and digital solutions to plastic waste management.
• • Prakriti- Mascot launched on 5th April 2022 for raising awareness amongst general public.
• • Three videos of PRAKRITI on ban on single use plastics have been made and translated in 19 languages. These have been shared with states and UTs
• • Dedicated webpage with all awareness material has been created for making available all information material and videos for wider dissemination and use by stakeholders (https://moef.gov.in/en/awareness-material-for-ban-on-single-use-plastic/ introduction/).
• • An E-Pledge on Swachh Bharat Harit Bharat Green Pledge has been launched on MyGov Platform for generating public movement amongst citizens on 5th April 2022.

• • To encourage, the transition from manufacturing SUP items, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is providing support to enterprises under various schemes.

• • All States/UTs have constituted Special Task Force elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
• • The Gram Panchayats will be responsible for the enforcement of the ban in rural areas.
• • Further, under SBM Grameen 2.0, there is a focus for plastic waste

management in the rural areas and a toolkit for plastic waste management has also been developed.

• • The Ministry had conducted a six month long awareness campaign in 2021 on single-use plastics.
• • In this campaign, four regional workshops were held with States/UTs and relevant stakeholders.
• • The Ministry has also held four regional workshops in February 2022 covering all States/UTs including relevant SPCBs, Urban Development Departments and Environment Departments etc.

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