Ban on single use plastic in Bihar

The Bihar government enforced a ban on production, import, storage and distribution of single-use plastic . The move comes after a ban on polythene to reduce plastic waste and pollution was enforced across the state. 

Violation of the law will attract penalty, fine and even jail term under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, according to a senior official of Bihar’s environment, forest and climate change department. 

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India has notified G.S.R. 571(E) dated 12th August, 2021 vide which manufacture , import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single use plastic (SUP) items have been prohibited with effect from the 01stJuly,2022. As per Rule 4(2) of PWM Rules, 2016 (as amended), “The manufacture, import stocking, distribution, sale and use of following Single Use Plastic (SUP), including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene (thermocol) commodities shall be 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 sweets boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers,