‘All shops, units must ensure zero inventories of SUP items from July 1’
Starting from July 1, the Delhi Government will shut down all units dealing in single-use plastic (SUP) items. The State Government has made it clear that it would take punitive action against all manufacturers, suppliers, stockists, dealers, and sellers found violating the order.
Before that, it has decided to run an awareness campaign to ensure compliance with the ban on 19 identified SUP items, including earbuds, plastic sticks for balloons, flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol), plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweets boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns, and stirrers.
“We have issued strict directions to manufacturers, stockists, suppliers and distributors of single-use plastic items to ensure zero inventories of the 19 SUP items. Those units found violating the order will be shut down,” a senior Government official said.
Regular inspections will be conducted to ascertain compliance by manufacturers, brand owners, suppliers, and stockists registered with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), he said, adding the Government will ensure strict enforcement.
Industrial areas and redevelopment areas are being inspected to identify and shut down units manufacturing SUP items illegally, the official said.
The DPCC has also asked the Sriram Institute of Industrial Research to conduct a survey to identify littering hotspots and quantify plastic waste generation in the city as it inches close to the June 30 deadline for phasing out of 19 SUP items.
The survey will cover all 11 districts in Delhi and will have to be completed within four months, an official said.
The Sriram Institute has been tasked with surveying all renowned, major commercial establishments, malls, market places, shopping centers, cinema houses, restaurants, tourist locations, places of worship, colleges, schools, office complexes, hospitals, and other institutions, said the official.
It will have to prepare an inventory of stockists, retailers, sellers, street vendors, vegetable and fruit markets and importers dealing in bulk in SUP items and conduct district-wise mapping of generation, collection, and processing of plastic waste, and identify producers engaged in their production in the informal sector.