Parliament passes resolution to ban single-use plastics by 2025

The Parliament has passed a resolution to impose a nation-wide ban on use of single-use plastics effective from 2025 onwards.

The resolution was presented to the parliamentary floor by the Environment and Climate Change Committee following a special request made by school students urging the Parliament for greater action on environmental protection on June 23.

The resolution was passed with the unanimous consensus of 64 parliamentarians this Monday afternoon.

The resolution calls for a reduction and eventual ban on production of 150 ml and 500 ml plastic water bottles, a ban on products such as supari packets and plastic straws, the establishment and subsidization of an alternative to plastic bags by 2025.

It also bans the import of plastic bags, and establishment of an alternative to plastic packaging for imports by 2025.

According to the resolution, all single-use plastics in the country must be collected and re-cycled or re-used responsibly.