UT rises to make festive season free of plastic

Chandigarh: Hoping to keep plastic waste to a minimum during the festival season, the UT administration is all set to notify the ban on the multi-layered plastic (MLP), which is primarily used by sweet shops in packaging sweet boxes and in cigarette packets.
“Under the notification, both the seller and buyer of the products wrapped in such a plastic will be held accountable for use and will face action as per the law,” an UT official said.

In June this year, the central government had imposed a nationwide ban on single use plastic, which included MLP too. But with the manufacturers not able to find alternative to MLP, the administration had to shift these products to the list of extended producer responsibility (EPR) category.
“Under the EPR, the producer takes the responsibility if such plastic is found dumped in the open. Such a manufacturer is liable to pay penalties. In addition to MLP, plastic refill pouches having quantity less than 500 ml and straws attached with tetra packs were included in the EPR. Now, the administration will issue a fresh notification for a comprehensive ban,” said the official.
Even though a ban has been imposed on single use plastic, its use has continued in the city. There are multiple locations particularly mandis, inner markets and rehris where the effectiveness of plastic ban has come under the scanner.
“During the festival season, we will step up the drive against banned plastics,” said the official. For improving the effectiveness of the plastic ban, the administration will also issue a fresh consolidated notification on ban imposed on single use plastic.
The administration is expected to seek the final approval of UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit in the coming week for the ban and consolidated notification.