Railways to enforce ban on single-use plastic material from Oct 2

The Ministry of Railways has directed all railway units to enforce a ban on single-use plastic material, with less than 50 microns thickness from October 2, according to news agency ANI. The direction has come in order to minimize the generation of plastic waste and its eco- friendly disposal.

Ministry of Railways has directed all railway units to enforce a ban on single-use plastic material, with less than 50 microns thickness from 2 Oct, to minimize generation of plastic waste and its eco- friendly disposal. Strict enforcement is to be from 2 Oct. pic.twitter.com/ftAAMjEnOa

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2019

In this regard, the Ministry of Railways has issued a circular stating the following instructions:

1. Ban on single-use plastic material
2. All railway vendors to avoid the use of plastic carry bags
3. Staff should reduce, reuse and refuse plastic products and to use inexpensive reusable bags to reduce plastic footprint.
4. IRCTC to implement the return of plastic drinking water bottles as part of Extended Producer Responsibility.
5. Plastic Bottle crushing machines to be provided expeditiously.

The strict enforcement of these instructions is to be from 02.10.2019, to give enough time to all concerned to prepare for "Plastic Free Railway".

Ministry of Railways has also instructed its Railway units that a pledge can be administered on October 2, 2019, to cut the use of plastics. Also, Information, Education & Communication (IEC) measures are to be adapted to create awareness among railway users.