The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned businesses from charging customers for plastic shopping bags, with the new rule taking effect on September 6. According to a notice issued on July 5, only reusable or recyclable bags made from non-plastic materials can be sold to consumers for a fee.
EPA Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh stated that retailers had been charging high prices for plastic bags, a practice that increased plastic bag production while reducing the use of eco-friendly, reusable, and recyclable alternatives.
Imran Hamid Sheikh emphasized that no shop, retail center, restaurant, hotel, or other commercial establishment would be allowed to charge a fee for plastic shopping bags provided to customers.
Retailers have been directed to supply plastic bags free of cost starting from the effective date. Meanwhile, consumers have been advised to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics, manage plastic waste responsibly, and switch to reusable or recyclable shopping bags.
Businesses that fail to comply after the September 6 deadline may face fines ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000. Violators could also face the sealing of their business premises and the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).
The DG EPA noted that many businesses had been charging extra for plastic bags carrying their own branding, effectively turning the bags into a separate product sold to consumers for profit.
Last month, the Punjab EPA accelerated efforts to create plastic-free zones in major city markets, announcing that plastic bags under 75 microns will be fully banned in the coming weeks as part of a province-wide crackdown on plastic pollution.
