Press Release
Press Release from State Pollution Control Board
Information & Public Relations Department
Joint Task Force Executes SUP Compliance Inspection; Confiscations and Penalties Levied on Offenders.
Date: February 20, 2026
Issued by: State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)
February 19, 2026: A joint inspection was carried out by a team consisting of SPCB officials, officials from Urban Local Bodies and Sikkim Police personnel to enforce the ban on Single Use Plastics(SUPs).
The Single Use Plastics items that are banned are the following: ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (Thermocol) for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweets boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns, and stirrers.
In addition, non-woven plastic carry bags with less than 60 GSM, plastic bags including polyethene bags, and less than 120 Micron thickness without proper marking and labelling and PET bottles for packaged drinking water Including alkaline water of capacity 2 Litres and below is strictly banned.
The team inspected local markets and commercial outlets of municipal areas to ensure compliance with the ban on SUP under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and to foster sustainable practices. During the drive, SPCB officials provided awareness on SUPs to the public, shopkeepers, and vendors.
Confiscations occurred in the following municipalities:
• Singtam Nagar Panchayat: 1 kg of SUPs; Fine: Rs. 1,500.
• Gangtok Municipal Corporation: 3.06 kg of SUPs; Fine: Rs. 1,000.
• Nayabazar Jorethang Nagar Panchayat: 0.5 kg of SUPs.
In total, 4.5 kg of prohibited SUP items were seized, and fines were imposed amounting to Rs. 2,500.
Additionaly the public was given a brief awareness about single-use plastics. SPCB Sikkim earnestly requests the collaboration of the public, shopkeepers, retailers, and distributors to cooperate in keeping our state plastic litter-free by refraining from the use of banned SUP items.
The enforcement drive shall be carried out every four days in a month.
Date: February 20, 2026
Issued by: State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)
February 19, 2026: A joint inspection was carried out by a team consisting of SPCB officials, officials from Urban Local Bodies and Sikkim Police personnel to enforce the ban on Single Use Plastics(SUPs).
The Single Use Plastics items that are banned are the following: ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (Thermocol) for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweets boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns, and stirrers.
In addition, non-woven plastic carry bags with less than 60 GSM, plastic bags including polyethene bags, and less than 120 Micron thickness without proper marking and labelling and PET bottles for packaged drinking water Including alkaline water of capacity 2 Litres and below is strictly banned.
The team inspected local markets and commercial outlets of municipal areas to ensure compliance with the ban on SUP under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and to foster sustainable practices. During the drive, SPCB officials provided awareness on SUPs to the public, shopkeepers, and vendors.
Confiscations occurred in the following municipalities:
• Singtam Nagar Panchayat: 1 kg of SUPs; Fine: Rs. 1,500.
• Gangtok Municipal Corporation: 3.06 kg of SUPs; Fine: Rs. 1,000.
• Nayabazar Jorethang Nagar Panchayat: 0.5 kg of SUPs.
In total, 4.5 kg of prohibited SUP items were seized, and fines were imposed amounting to Rs. 2,500.
Additionaly the public was given a brief awareness about single-use plastics. SPCB Sikkim earnestly requests the collaboration of the public, shopkeepers, retailers, and distributors to cooperate in keeping our state plastic litter-free by refraining from the use of banned SUP items.
The enforcement drive shall be carried out every four days in a month.
