Odisha Forest Department Swings into Action to Ban Single-use Plastic in Public Offices

Bhubaneswar: As the usage of single-use plastic continues unabated in public offices, the Odisha Forest & Environment (F&E) Department has swung into action to ban the indiscriminate use of single-use plastic in all government offices.

The department said, “The use of single-use plastic continues unabated in public offices and it has now become imperative to immediately make all government offices free of single-use plastic.”

In order to ban use of single-use plastic immediately by all departments, the F&E department has issued advisory in this regard.

There shall be no use of PET water bottles, plastic cups and plates etc in the offices and in course of official meetings, the department said.

Since water purifiers have been installed in different offices, officers and staff may be advised to take water for their use by using stainless steel or glass bottle. The same practice shall also be followed for official meetings during which glass bottles and paper cups can be used, the advisory stated.

No plastic folders or flex banners shall be used in day to day official work, meetings and functions. The concerned department shall explore sustainable alternatives in this regard, it added.

The concerned department shall take up IEC activities to sensitise their officers and staff regarding the ban on the use of single-use plastic in the respective departments.

The non-biodegradable matter- Plastic has now become a matter of concern for all as it leaves an adverse effect on the environment causing serious hazards on humans as well as animals and marine life, it added.