Pune Municipal Corporation plans to act against single-use plastic manufacturers

For the first time, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to take action against single-use plastic manufacturers.

Pune: Stepping up its fight against plastic, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to act against manufacturers for the first time.

Officials stated on Monday that the PMC's solid waste management (SWM) department submitted a proposal to civic chief Rajendra Bhosale last week. The proposal, which was also sent to the PMC legal department, seeks action against single-use plastic manufacturing units within and outside municipal limits (with the help of other governing bodies).

Sandip Kadam, head of the PMC solid waste management department, said, "Though there are special teams to check the sale, exchange, and use of banned plastic, a green signal to the proposal will help target the source of illegal plastic products and prevent them from entering the market."

The Maharashtra government banned plastics in March 2018, following the implementation of the Plastic Waste Management Rules in 2016.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) issued a notification on 12 March, directing the civic body to increase vigilance on the production, sale, use, and exchange of banned single-use plastic.

According to a civic official, PMC collects a fine of ₹5,000 from first-time offenders, ₹10k from second-time violators, and ₹25k from third-time or repeat offenders. The official added that 823 kg of illegal plastic has been collected since January 2024.