The government two years ago said a ban on plastic bags in the Capital city would come into force starting Nepali New Year (April 14, 2015), implying that buying, selling and using polythene sacs below 40 microns would be an offence and that the offender would be liable to pay fines. 

The decision was aimed at addressing the growing problem of plastic and polythene waste in an already polluted city. While some hailed the move, others were skeptical, as plastic bags offered the most convenient way of carrying groceries.

Slack implementation meant rampant use of plastic bags unchecked. The government then introduced Plastic Bag Directive-2016 and announced a nationwide ban on the import, export, distribution, use and sell of polythene bags below 30 microns starting July 17, 2016

But Nepal Plastic Manufacturers’ Association protested against the move and demanded that there should be at least a six-month window before implementing the ban. The government, however, gave only a month to “look for alternatives,” saying it would bring a new directive to impose a blanket ban on plastic bags. 

More than a year has passed and a new directive is yet to come. Hence use, sell, distribution, import and export of plastic bags still continue. 

Laxmi Kumari Basnet, joint secretary at the Ministry of Population and Environment (MoPE), said frequent government changes hampered the process of bringing the new directive. 

Santosh Kumar Sedhai, general secretary of Nepal Plastic Manufacturers’ Association, said no new directive has been issued. “Nor have the entrepreneurs been given alternatives by the government, hence they are still producing plastic bags,” he said. According to Sedhai, plastic manufacturers are ready to invest more on producing improved quality of plastic bags. “But the government must focus on developing waste disposal system and treatment methods to reduce environmental effects of plastic,” he added. 

Basnet from the MoPE said the ministry is likely to focus on raising awareness among the general public about recycle and reuse of plastic bags, as a blanket ban is unlikely to work.