Ban on single use of plastics in UT Chandigarh

27th September 2019: Environment Department, Chandigarh Administration has issued a Notification today on putting the ban on single use of plastics in UT Chandigarh. 

As per Notification, no person including a shopkeeper, vendor, whole seller or retailer, trader, hawker or rehriwala etc. shall manufacture, store, import, sell, transport, supply or use following plastic/thermocol/Styrofoam items from the date of issuance of Notification except the items mentioned at Sr. No. 12 to 18, which shall be banned after 3 months from the date of issuance of present Notification :-

1) Single use plastic cutlery (plates, cups, glasses, bowls, forks, knives, spoons, stirrer and straw).

2) Thermocol/Styrofoam cutlery (plates, cups, glasses and bowls etc.).

3) Single use plastic containers (dish, bowl, trays, glasses, lids) less than 250 microns used for packaging/covering of food/liquid items.

4) Plastic (sold in the name of Silver/Aluminium) bag/pouch for packing food items.

5) Drinking water sealed glasses and plastic mineral water pouch.

6) Single-time use (Use and throw) razors.

7) Single-time use (Use and throw) pens.

8) Use of thermocol for decoration purpose.

9) Use of plastic material for decoration purpose such as wrapping/packing sheets, frills, garland, confetti, party bloopers, plastic ribbons etc.

10) Non-woven polypropylene bags

11) Polythene/Plastic carry bags with or without handle irrespective of size, shape and colour (excluding bags permissible under Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016).

12) Industrial packaging (of any kind) less than 50 microns.

13) Single use plastic containers (used for curd, kheer, ice creams etc.) less than 250 microns used for packaging of dairy items.

14) Plastic sachets with packaging capacity of 50 ml/50 gm. and less.

15) Plastic sticks for ear buds, balloons, flags and candies.

16) Plastic refill pouch having quantity less than 500 ml.

17) Straws attached with tetra packs.

18) Multilayered packaging used for food/snacks packing.

Any person causing breach of the aforesaid prohibition shall be liable for the penalties as per the provision of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and orders of Hon’ble NGT, which are as follows and as amended from time to time:

I. Under Section 15 of the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986, whoever fails to comply with the aforesaid orders, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both.

II. Under Section 5 of the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986, any person causing breach of the aforesaid prohibition shall face/deal with the following circumstances:

a) the closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process; or

b) stoppage or regulation of the supply of electricity or water or any other service.

III. Hon'ble National Green Tribunal (NGT) in it’s order dated 04.12.2015in O.A. No. 442 titled as R.D. Anand Vs. Chandigarh Union Territory Administration & Anr., directed that any person who is found to be using, storing, purchasing, dealing with or distributing plastic bags, plastic plates or plastic glasses and such allied items shall be liable to pay environmental compensation at the rate of Rs. 5000/- per event.”