One year after SUP ban, Capital poor in junking plastic: Survey

Around 88% of stores and markets in Delhi banned use single use plastic (SUP) items, more than a year after the prohibition came into effect, a survey of five Indian cities has found, making the national capital the worst in terms of the implementation of rules among the assessed cities.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

Bengaluru, on the other hand, was the best city in terms of compliance, with banned SUPs found in only 55% of the locations surveyed. The other cities surveyed were Gwalior (84%), Mumbai (71%) and Guwahati (77%).

The findings, part of the report titled 'Single Use Plastic Ban in India', were carried out by nongovernmental organisation Toxics Link, which was released on Tuesday.

On July 1, 2022, the Centre banned the use of 19 SUP items ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks made of plastic, thermocol, plastic cutlery, plastic cigarette packs, plastic stirrers and PVC banners less than 100 microns in thickness. Other items include plastic films around invitation cards and plastic wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes and plastic bags that are less than 120 microns in thickness.