Single-use plastic ban in force: PCBA asks DCs to form surveillance teams

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) has asked the deputy commissioners through their regional offices to form surveillance teams to keep a vigil on the use of single-use plastics. The single-use plastics ban will come into force all over the country from tomorrow.

The PCBA said each team would comprise a district magistrate, representatives from the civic body and the police. In the first week, the team will emphasize bringing awareness among the stakeholders. The teams will have to act tough from the second week, charging Rs 500 from individuals and retailers on the spot for using single-use plastics. For the violation of the regulation by production units, the PCBA will impose a penalty of Rs 5,000.

Things to come under the banned list from tomorrow are earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, plastic candy sticks, plastic ice cream sticks, thermocol for decoration, etc.

Banned plastics with less than 100 microns in thickness are plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards and cigarette packets. The authorities banned single-use carry bags with thickness less than 75 microns last year, but who cares?

The PCBA issued a notification and asked all producers, stockists, retailers, shopkeepers, street vendors, malls, shopping centres, cinema halls, schools and colleges, hospitals, other institutes and the general public to stop the production, distribution, and sale of single-use plastic items. Any violation of this regulation shall attract a penalty under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, including seizure of goods, levying of environmental compensation and closure of the operation, as deemed fit.

A section of retailers and small traders says that if the consumers bring bags, they do not need to provide the items with single-use plastic bags and wrappers. "If we use the plastic of the specified thickness, we will have to bear an additional cost. Unlike the malls, we cannot charge that amount from the consumers," a small trader said.

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