The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Punjab has banned commercial establishments from charging customers for plastic shopping bags starting September 6. Under the new directive, businesses can only charge fees for bags made from reusable or recyclable materials.
EPA Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh issued the order in a notice dated July 5. According to Sheikh, retailers have been charging exorbitant prices for plastic bags.
He stated that the practice has boosted the production of plastic bags while reducing the manufacturing of alternative bags made from “reusable and recyclable eco-friendly materials.”
The notification states that no shop, retail center, restaurant, hotel, or other commercial establishment is allowed to charge any fee for providing plastic bags when selling products. They are permitted to charge only for reusable or recyclable shopping bags made from non-plastic materials.
Sheikh also noted that businesses have been charging extra for plastic bags that feature their own corporate branding, essentially turning the bags into an additional product sold to consumers. He stated that “a profit margin is also made from consumers on plastic bags.”
Retailers have been instructed to provide plastic bags free of cost until the deadline. Consumers are advised to minimize their reliance on single-use plastics, manage plastic waste responsibly, and use reusable or recyclable alternatives.
The EPA will enforce penalties for businesses violating the ban after September 6. Fines will range from Rs5,000 to Rs50,000. Authorities may also seal the non-compliant business premises and register a FIR [First Information Report].
The directive follows a broader campaign by the provincial environmental regulator. Last month, EPA increased efforts to establish plastic-free zones across major city markets.
The agency previously announced that plastic bags measuring below 75 microns will face a complete ban as part of a province-wide crackdown on plastic pollution.
