University Grant Commission (UGC) have given guidelines to universities and educational institutions to ban the use of plastic under ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa Campaign‘ with the motive to eliminate the use of plastic and to dispose of plastic waste.
Scope of guidelines :
- These guidelines are applicable to all the higher educational institutions (HEIs) in the country.
- They encourage HEIs (universities and colleges) to adopt policies and practices towards cleaner and plastic-free campuses.
“All the HEIs in the country shall strive to make their campuses ‘plastic-free’ by systematically banning the use of plastic and replacing the same with suitable environment-friendly substitutes.”
UGC has directed every HEI:
- Ban use of single-use plastics in canteens, shopping complexes in the institution’s premises and hostels, etc.
- Carry out awareness drives and sensitisation workshops on the harmful impacts of single-use plastics.
- Instruct all students to avoid bringing non-biodegradable plastic items to the institutions.
- Encourage their students to spread awareness in their respective households about the harmful effects of plastics and make their households ‘plastic-free’
- Install necessary alternative facilities like water units to avoid the use of plastic water bottles, and encourage the use of alternative solutions like cloth bags, paper bags, etc, instead of plastic bottles, bags, cover, and other goods on campuses.
- All HEIs which have adopted villages under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan shall undertake a campaign in their adopted villages till they are converted into ‘plastic-free villages’ through promoting awareness and encouraging the shift to alternative products.
The use of plastics are banned by UGC for a number of reasons:
- Plastic waste has emerged as one of the biggest environmental concerns adversely impacting the soil, water, health and well-being of citizen at large, excess-consumption of plastic combined with limited waste disposal systems has become a challenge to the urban waste disposal systems,
- Plastic has choked the rivers and water systems in rural areas.
Also Read : Swachhata Hi Sewa Campaign