Single-use plastic items to be prohibited from July 2022: Centre

The ministry has also notified an increase in the thickness of plastic bags, aiming to reduce littering of plastic

The Union government has banned the use of select single-use plastic items, with effect from July 2022. In a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) said the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities "shall be prohibited".

Among the prohibited items are ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration; plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette