Himachal Pradesh bans thermocol cutlery in the state, imposes heavy fines

The Changing Markets Foundation has released ‘Talking Trash: The Corporate Playbook of False Solution’ report on the world’s worst plastic waste offenders. The report states that the companies involved are actively taking steps to obstruct and undermine legislative solutions aimed at tackling an unprecedented global plastic waste crisis. The Foundation is on a mission to expose irresponsible corporate practices and drive change towards a more sustainable economy. The report focused on companies who actually took the step of announcing the amount of plastic they produce. Let’s take a look at the world’s worst offenders for plastic pollution who are producing metric tonnes of plastic packaging annually as of 2020. (Image: Reuters)

A month after it launched “Plastic Hatao Himachal Bachao” campaign, Himachal state government has now banned thermocol cutlery and given a time period of three months for the manufacturers and retailers to dispose of their stocks.

After the proposed deadline, heavy fines will be levied on the individual found using them. The proposed fine amount depending on quantity is as follows: -

Up to 100gm- Rs 500

101 to 500 gm - Rs 1,500.

501gm to 1kg- Rs 3,000.

1.1kg to 5kg- Rs 10,000.

5.1kg to 10 kg - Rs 20,000.

More than 10 kg – Rs 25,000.

Government’s secretariat administration had earlier passed an executive order prohibiting government offices from using plastic bottles. It further directed all the offices of different departments, corporations and boards to discard the use of plastic bottles for serving water.

According to the State Governor Acharya Devrat, the steps were taken in order to reduce plastic waste generated in Himachal Pradesh and to help achieve the goals set by “plastic hatao Himachal bachao” campaign launched last month.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Himachal Pradesh generates nearly two tonnes of plastic waste daily.

In an attempt to reduce such wastage, the government was planning to provide steel bottles to school children under the Mukhya Mantri Vardi Yojana.