Odisha issues draft guidelines on plastic ban

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of imposition of complete ban on use of plastic bags and polythene in Odisha from October 2, the State Government has issued draft guidelines on the restrictions.

As per the guidelines issued by Forest and Environment Department, sale, trade, manufacture, import, storing, carrying, transport and use or distribution of polythene and single-use plastic will be restricted in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Puri municipalities.

Vendors will be allowed to use polythene sheets not less than 50 micron thick. However, plastic and polythene packaging materials used in plant nurseries, horticulture, agriculture and healthcare sector like medicines, blood transportation bags, syringe, sample or specimen bags, resealable bags, medical instruments and accessories have been excluded from the ambit of the ban.

Owners of places of religious worship, institutions, hotels, restaurants and other places like marriage or party halls, offices and outdoor events will provide space for collection of plastic waste within their campus and returning the same to the manufacturers or suppliers.