Environment ministry advises states to reduce reliance on single-use plastic

As the industry awaits clarity on the government's proposed single-use plastic ban, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has issued an advisory to states and government departments on the issue.

The advisory has specified modalities for the phase-out process of single use plastic, sources said. According to the advisory, the MoEF has defined single-use plastic "as disposable plastics (use-and-throw items) that are commonly used for packaging and include items intended to be used only once, before they are thrown away or recycled. Common SUP items are carry bags, food packaging, bottles, straws, containers, cups and cutlery".

The advisory says that while individual states and union territories have issued specific regulations on the use of single-use plastic in the past, "the following suggestions are to be added to the existing orders and/or to any new regulations as an advisory."