New Delhi: Indian Railways has announced a ban on single-use plastic in all its units, starting from October 2.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech, had urged the people not to use single-use plastic from October 2, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Following the PM's appeal, the Ministry of Railways has directed all Railway units to enforce a ban on single-use plastic material, with less than 50-micron thickness.
Emphasis is on making necessary arrangements to minimize the generation of plastic waste and its eco-friendly disposal, the ministry said in a circular issued here.
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All railway vendors have been directed to avoid the use of plastic carry bags, staff reduce, reuse and refuse plastic products and to use inexpensive reusable bags to reduce plastic footprint, IRCTC to implement the return of plastic drinking water bottles as part of Extended Producer Responsibility and plastic bottle crushing machines to be provided expeditiously.
Ministry of Railways has also instructed its Railway units that a pledge can be administered on Gandhi Jayanti to cut the use of plastics. Also, Information, Education & Communication (IEC) measures are to be adapted to create awareness among railway users.