The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a blow to every sphere of life, including the implementation of the ban on the use of single-use plastic bags, which has marginally increased in Bengaluru.
According to data from 39 dry waste collection centres (DWCC) facilitated by Hasiru Dala, a not-for-profit organisation, each centre’s plastic collection stood at 2,500 kg per month before the ban was implemented. The volume of collection came down drastically to 40-50 kg per month after the government announced a ban on the use of all plastic below the thickness of 40 microns in 2015.
In 2016, the government issued a notification banning the use of all plastic and thermocol regardless of thickness. While the numbers did not come down suddenly, it started to dip steadily over the years since 2015.
