SRINAGAR: More than 1,700 tonnes of banned polythene and single-use plastic have been seized across Jammu and Kashmir since the government imposed a blanket prohibition on such materials, reflecting intensified enforcement and monitoring nearly six years after the ban came into force.
Official figures placed before the Assembly show that the Union Territory has confiscated 1,773.17 tonnes of illegal polythene and 232.05 tonnes of single-use plastic (SUP) between 2019 and January 2026. The restrictions were introduced through SRO-231 dated March 26, 2019, followed by a separate government order barring the use of single-use plastic water bottles in government offices, autonomous bodies and universities to cut the region’s plastic footprint.
Data shared by the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee indicate that enforcement has continued steadily across both divisions. While Jammu recorded the bulk of earlier seizures, the current financial year has seen a sharp spike in recoveries from Kashmir, particularly in polythene. Between April 2025 and January 2026 alone, over 487 tonnes of banned polythene and nearly 22 tonnes of SUP were seized.
Authorities have also stepped up penalties. Under provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Non-Biodegradable Material (Management, Handling and Disposal) Act, 2007, fines amounting to Rs 4.32 lakh were compounded during the ongoing financial year, with Rs 2.76 lakh realised in Jammu and Rs 1.56 lakh in Kashmir. Separate enforcement by urban local bodies led to the seizure of over 18,600 kilograms of banned polythene and the imposition of approximately Rs 26.76 lakh in fines.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development Jammu and Kashmir said all urban local bodies have issued orders enforcing a ban on identified SUP items and polythene below 120 microns, in line with the Plastic Waste Management Rules. Regular inspection drives, public notices and market checks are being conducted to curb production, stocking and sale of prohibited items.
Beyond punitive action, the government is relying on behavioural change campaigns. Cloth and jute bag kiosks have been set up at prominent locations in Jammu, offering alternatives to plastic and functioning as exchange points. Awareness drives, rallies, street plays and student-led clean-ups are being organised under campaigns such as Byebyeplastic and Jammuagainstplastic to discourage daily plastic use.
Infrastructure has also been expanded to handle waste scientifically. Material Recovery Facilities are being established in municipalities, and tie-ups have been signed with Extended Producer Responsibility agencies for lifting plastic waste. Jammu Municipal Corporation has partnered with Regional and Urban Development Agency to set up a dry waste collection centre and with Centre for Environment Education to operate a plastic recycling and product development centre at Bandurakh, which has been functional since April 2025.
In rural areas, the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Jammu and Kashmir has directed Panchayats and Block Development Officers to enforce the ban during public functions and Gram Sabha meetings. Village-level inspections and resolutions discouraging plastic use are being adopted, alongside awareness campaigns.
Tourism hubs are also being brought under stricter norms. The “Swachhta Green Leaf Rating” initiative, launched in Pahalgam, grades hotels and hospitality units on sanitation and waste management practices, promoting plastic-free operations and sustainable disposal systems.
Officials said the combination of enforcement, fines, public outreach and waste-processing infrastructure is aimed at creating a zero-tolerance regime against single-use plastic and ensuring long-term reduction in environmental pollution across Jammu and Kashmir.
