The Delhi government has expanded the ban on plastic bags to plastic packaging
The Delhi government has expanded the ban on plastic bags to plastic packaging
Delhi issued a 2009 ban on plastic bags that were less than 0.04 millimeters thick. The new ban extends to all plastic packaging, such as magazines and greeting card plastic jackets and garbage bags. Those who break the ban will be fined. "Today, the government banned all plastic bags, sales and manufacturing in Delhi, without exception," an official at Delhi's chief minister's office told AFP. "Plastic is an environmental disaster," the official said. These bags clog up the city's sewers and cannot biodegrade. The ban may take time, but we must ensure that it is implemented everywhere in Delhi." Delhi's estimated 17 million residents generate 574 tons of plastic garbage a day, according to the Delhi government website. Enforcement of the ban also faces a situation where there is no substitute for plastic bags. Since 2009, shopping bags made from jute fiber have been popular in Delhi but not readily available.
