Ban on single use plastic products comes into effect from Aug

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy Thursday said the ban on ten non-biodegradable and single use plastic products would come into force in the Union Territory from August 2.

Addressing reporters at the end of a cabinet meeting here, he said the government has imposed the ban on ten single use plastic products, which include polythene plastic carry bags, thermacol cups, thermacol plates water pouches, plastic straw and plastic flags.

Narayanasamy also said alternatively eight items have however been exempted from the ban, which include plastic coated paper cups, plastic sheet used for industrial packing, pulses, cereals, medicine and milk, and plastic bags of more than 40x 50 cm in size used for collection disposal of solid and biomedical wastes.

A joint meeting with manufacturers of plastic products, traders, cloth merchants and hoteliers was held recently by the Welfare and Environment Minister M Kandasamy to enlist their cooperation as the government was keen to ensure that the Union Territory emerged plastic free, he added.

On the penalty, he said, "fine ranging between Rs 5000 and Rs 1 lakh would be imposed on those violating the ban."