Mumbai bans plastic: A list of items you can and can’t use

The Maharashtra government had imposed a ban on manufacture, use, sale, distribution and storage of all plastic materials across the state from today. Here’s a list of plastic items that are banned and the ones you can use.

mumbai Updated: Jun 24, 2018 07:18 IST
People are seen using plastic bags at the Crawford market in Mumbai.(Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)

Authorities have said they will fine offenders up to Rs 25,000 as penalty for not following the that comes into effect in Maharashtra on Saturday.

The Maharashtra government had on March 23 issued a notification imposing a ban on manufacture, use, sale, distribution and storage of all plastic materials, including one-time use bags, spoons, plates, PET and PETE bottles and thermocol items.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will for the first offence, Rs 1,000 fine for the second one and Rs 25,000 fine for every subsequent violation.

The BMC’s 249-member squad will educate Mumbai residents about the ban over the weekend, but it will start handing out fines from Monday.

Here’s a list of plastic items that are illegal to use or exempt from the ban: 

DON’T USE THESE FROM TODAY
All kinds
of plastic bags (with and without handle), garbage bags
All one-time use
disposable items made up of plastic and thermocol, such as cutlery, plates and bowls.
Plastic sheets
to wrap or store products and plastic pouches to store liquid
Non-woven
polypropylene bags (a cross between paper and cloth bag)
Disposable
plastic containers used for takeaway
PET bottles
(containing soft drinks, mineral water etc) and with a carrying capacity of less than 500 ml
ITEMS EXEMPTED
Plastic cover/
plastic material used at the manufacturing stage
Plastic used
for medicines, solid waste management and agricultural products
Compostable
plastic material used for nurseries, horticulture and agriculture
Milk bags and plastic bottles
used in packaged water industry. Milk bags and bottles will have to be recycled by collecting them back. Or else, customers have to pay a nominal recycling fee to shopkeeper