New Delhi, Delhi has emerged as one of many worst-performing cities in complying with India’s ban on single-use plastic , with banned plastic gadgets discovered at 86 per cent of surveyed places, in response to a brand new examine by an environmental group.
The examine, launched on Wednesday by the environmental group Toxics Hyperlink, discovered that three years after the nationwide ban on a number of SUP gadgets got here into pressure, prohibited plastic merchandise proceed to be extensively used and offered throughout main Indian cities, indicating persistent gaps in enforcement.
Titled “Revisiting Single Use Plastic Ban”, the report surveyed 560 places throughout Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati and Bhubaneswar between April and August 2025, and located banned plastic gadgets current in 84 per cent of all websites lined.
Among the many 4 cities, Bhubaneswar recorded the very best violation fee at 89 per cent, adopted intently by Delhi at 86 per cent, Mumbai at 85 per cent and Guwahati at 76 per cent, the report mentioned.
The survey lined a spread of institutions together with avenue distributors, juice stalls, markets, small eating places, grocery shops, spiritual websites, railway platforms and organised shops.
It discovered that skinny plastic carry baggage, disposable cutlery, plastic cups, plates and straws proceed to stay in widespread circulation, particularly in casual and small-scale business settings.
In line with the findings, native and casual distributors corresponding to avenue meals sellers, juice outlets, coconut water stalls, vegetable distributors, ice cream parlours and weekly markets confirmed “full or near-complete presence” of banned plastic gadgets. In distinction, malls and organised retail areas have been discovered to be extra compliant with the ban.
“The continued presence of banned plastic gadgets in a majority of places means that enforcement stays inconsistent,” mentioned Ravi Agarwal, director of Toxics Hyperlink.
“Except implementation improves and the availability of those merchandise is managed, the ban is not going to successfully handle plastic littering and air pollution,” he added.
The examine additionally flagged client behaviour and prices as key boundaries to compliance. It mentioned 91 per cent of small distributors reported that prospects nonetheless ask for carry baggage, whereas an equal proportion cited the upper price of options as a significant motive for not switching away from banned plastic gadgets.
On the similar time, the report famous that options corresponding to paper cups and plates, newspaper wraps, wood cutlery, metal utensils, aluminium foil containers, bagasse plates, fabric baggage and thicker reusable plastic baggage above 120 microns can be found in lots of locations, suggesting that lack of substitutes isn’t the principal downside.
“Vendor reluctance to transition away from single-use plastics is partly influenced by buyer preferences. Prospects additionally understand disposable plates and cutlery to be extra hygienic than reusable gadgets,” mentioned Satish Sinha, affiliate director of Toxics Hyperlink.
The report mentioned the continued availability of banned gadgets factors to gaps in manufacturing and distribution. It additionally known as for stricter inspections, coordinated motion amongst regulators, improved affordability of options, assist for small distributors and sustained public consciousness campaigns.
The suggestions come within the backdrop of rising considerations over plastic air pollution and after the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Air pollution held in Geneva in 2025, the report famous.
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