Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Centre made a fresh move to curb the use of plastics in the country as plastic products have long been an environmental hazard in India, to which several states have banned plastic bags, but the implementation has been anything but perfect.
According to the official reports, the Union Environment ministry notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, that manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of certain single-use plastic items with low utility and high littering potential be banned from July 1, 2022.
These include earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films used for sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron and stirrers.
The Environment ministry also notified that the thickness of plastic carry bags will be increased from 50 microns to 75 microns and 120 microns from September 30, 2021, to facilitate the reuse of plastic carry bags.
