The Nagaland government has imposed a “ban on single-use plastics” in the entire state with a view to eradicate the menace of plastic and the serious environmental and ecological challenges posed by rampant use of plastics.
“The ban on single-use plastics shall be made effective from the date of publication of this notification in the official gazette in the entire state of Nagaland,” an official notification said on April 25.
The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic shall not be less than 75 microns in thickness w.e.f. September 30, 2021 and 120 microns in thickness w.e.f. December 31, 2022. Further, a non-woven plastic carry bag shall not be less than 60 GSM w.e.f. September 30, 2022, said the report.
The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities shall be prohibited w.e.f. July 1, 2022. Those materials are earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration; and plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.
All other clauses mandated in the ‘Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016’ and ‘Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021’ should be strictly adhered to, the official report also said.
According to the official report, all Individual, institution, and commercial establishments and central and state government departments / agencies / commissions / PSUs / missions, etc. including militaries/paramilitaries in the state shall abide the ban and any breach shall be liable for penalties.
