Single Use Plastic Ban in India

Title: Single Use Plastic Ban in India​
Publication Type: Research Reports
Year of Publication: 2023
Abstract: The new report titled “Single Use Plastic Ban in India” presents a concerning picture of India’s efforts to curb single-use plastic pollution. Despite the ban on select single-use plastic products implemented a year ago, a study was conducted in five Indian cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Guwahati, and Gwalior, notably in local stores and markets. The study, conducted by Toxics Link, found that all banned single-use plastics, with the exception of plastic stirrers and ice cream sticks, were still in use across the surveyed cities. Specifically, restrictive carry bags were the most commonly available banned item. Other banned products such as thermocol decorations, balloons, and plastic stick earbuds continued to be sold in all cities despite the existence of viable alternatives. The persistent availability of banned single-use plastics in such high percentages of surveyed points, even months after the ban, raises serious doubts about the effectiveness of India’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution.