Himachal may ban plastic utensils

After successfully banning plastic bags in Himachal Pradesh, the hill state is now considering banning plastic cups, plates and tumblers to further make the state free of plastic waste. This was conveyed by the state government to a Central team consisting of Satish Kumar, director, administrative reforms, and A Kasturirangan, an expert in urban planning, in Shimla last week.

Himachal was the first state in the country to ban green felling in1983 and the use of plastic bags in 1999. The state has also successfully launched a programme to remove plastic waste from public places with help of legislation and NGOs. CM P K Dhumal said the state may transfer fines collected for environment penalties.