The East Khasi Hills district administration has banned the use of plastic carry bags less than 120 microns in thickness.
According to the district administration such single use plastic items will be strictly prohibited from June 1, 2025.
According to the administration, the ban is due to the Meghalaya High Court directive to all districts to take stringent actions against the sale and use of single-use plastics and plastic carry bags of size less than the prescribed thickness.
In its order, the District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills has directed all manufacturers/stockists/distributors/retailers and general public not to sell or use plastic carry bags less than 120 microns.
The other items banned are ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks and polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration.
Apart from these items plates, cups, glasses cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, stirrers, wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron have also been banned.
Also single-use plastics claiming to be biodegradable and oxo-biodegradable without the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) certificate are also banned.
According to the district administration, failure to comply with the order shall be liable for penalty under Section 18 of the amended Plastic Waste Management Rules dated July 6, 2022 enacted under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
