NEW DELHI BANS DISPOSABLE PLASTIC

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NEW DELHI: Imposed a ban on disposable plastic in January 2017 because of scenes like this at Ghazipur, India.

THE INDEPENDENT - NEW DELHI, INDIA BANS DISPOSABLE PLASTIC JANUARY 2017

India’s capital city Delhi has introduced a ban on disposable plastic.

Cutlery, bags, cups and other forms of single-use plastic were prohibited by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

There is particular concern in the country about the amount of plastic waste it produces. According to the Times of India, it is one of the top four polluters in the world.

The ban affects the whole National Capital Territory (NCT) area of Delhi.

It was introduced after complaints about the illegal mass burning of plastic and other waste at three local rubbish dumps, which has been blamed for causing air pollution. The sites are supposed to operate as waste-to-energy plants.

The Tribunal said in a statement: “Each of these sites is a depiction of the mess that can be created for environment and health of people of Delhi.

“We direct that use of disposable plastic is prohibited in entire NCT of Delhi

“The Delhi government shall take steps for storage and use of plastic materials.”

The ban came into force at the start of this month.

“All the corporations … and other public authorities, including NCT of Delhi, are directed to take immediate steps for reduction and utilisation of dumped waste,” the Tribunal added.

THE INDIA TIMES - ALL FORMS OF DISPOSABLE PLASTIC BANNED IN DELHI-NCR 25 JANUARY 2017

The capital has put its foot down in one aspect of pollution dealing with plastics by banning all types of disposable plastics throughout Delhi-NCR.

Last year in December the National Green Tribunal passed a law that banned disposable plastic and that law came into force on the first day of 2017. Included in the ban are bags, chai cups and cutlery.

Banning disposable plastic is a huge step for the capital and the country because India is among the top four biggest plastic polluters in the world, responsible for around 60% of the 8.8 million tons of plastic that is dumped into the world’s oceans every year.

This step is in part a reaction to three local dumping sites in Okhla, Gazipur and Bhalswa, which operate as waste-to-energy plants but according to residents in the vicinity, illegal mass burning technology causes air pollution.

The National Green Tribunal said in a statement, “Each of these sites is a depiction of the mess that can be created for environment and health of people of Delhi."

“We direct that use of disposable plastic is prohibited in entire NCT of Delhi.”

It added that INR 10,000 environment compensation will be imposed on vegetable vendors and slaughterhouses if they throw garbage in public places. By Shreya Kalra

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