The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) Sikkim, along with officials from Urban Local Bodies and personnel of the Sikkim Police, carried out a joint inspection drive on February 19 to enforce the ban on single-use plastics (SUPs) across municipal areas of the state.The inspection was conducted under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The team visited local markets and commercial establishments to check whether banned plastic items were being stored, sold or used. During the drive, officials also spoke to shopkeepers, vendors and members of the public and explained the harmful impact of single-use plastics.According to the SPCB, the banned items include ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks used for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, thermocol used for decoration, plastic plates, cups, glasses and cutlery such as forks, spoons and knives. Plastic straws, trays, stirrers, wrapping films around sweet boxes, invitation cards and cigarette packets are also prohibited. Plastic or PVC banners below 100 micron are not allowed.
In addition, non-woven plastic carry bags below 60 GSM, plastic bags including polyethylene bags below 120 micron thickness without proper marking and labelling, and PET bottles for packaged drinking water including alkaline water of 2 litres and below are strictly banned.During the inspection, confiscations were made in several municipal areas. In Singtam Nagar Panchayat, 1 kilogram of banned items was seized and a fine of Rs. 1,500 was imposed. In Gangtok Municipal Corporation, 3.06 kilograms of prohibited plastics were confiscated and a fine of Rs. 1,000 was levied. In Nayabazar Jorethang Nagar Panchayat, 0.5 kilogram of banned plastic items was seized.In total, 4.5 kilograms of single-use plastic items were seized during the drive and fines amounting to Rs. 2,500 were collected from offenders.
Officials said that apart from enforcement, the team also provided brief awareness sessions on single-use plastics and encouraged traders to switch to eco-friendly alternatives. The SPCB has appealed to the public, shopkeepers, retailers and distributors to cooperate with the authorities and help keep Sikkim free from plastic litter by avoiding the use of banned items.The Board said that such enforcement drives will be carried out every four days in a month to ensure strict compliance with the rules and to promote sustainable practices across the state.