India bans single plastic from fighting pollution

The government dismissed the demands of food, drink and consumer goods companies to lift the restriction to avoid disruptions.

Plastic waste has become a major source of pollution in India, the world's second most populated country. The rapid economic growth has prompted demand for goods coming in with plastic products for a use, such as straw straw straw and a collection of one use.

India, which uses some 14 million tons of plastic a year, lacks an organized system for plastic waste management, leading to the spread of waste.

Roads in cities are filled with plastic goods that eventually drown channels, rivers and oceans and also kill animals.

India's ban on plastic items for one use includes straw, takam, ear buds, packing movies, plastic sticks for balloons, candy and ice cream and packs of cigarettes, among other products, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government said.

PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, India's Parle Agro, Dabur and Amul had lobbied for straw to be excluded from the ban.

In a consumer relief, the government has for now ruled out plastic bags, but has urged producers and importers to increase thickness to promote reuse.

Some experts believe implementing the ban may be difficult. The government has decided to create control rooms to control any use, sale and illegal distribution of plastic products for a use./ P ERISCOPI/