No.43/2020-2021

Environment, Forests & Climate Change Department, Govt. of Mizoram issued a Office Memorandum on 18th March, 2020 in pursuance of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s notification on the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the Hon’able Prime Minister’s call to curb single use plastic and phase out its use by 2022, the attention of all Government Departments and Institutions have been called towards the indiscriminate use of single-use or short-life PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) flex boards and posters in Government Offices and Institutions for short-term advertisement and other purposes.

PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) is a non-biodegradable plastic polymer, which if burned, releases harmful toxins such as dioxins, furans, etc., which may get accumulated in the food-chain of ecosystems causing serious hazard to human health as well as the environment. Reduction in use of PVC is necessary to combat plastic pollution.

Therefore, it is hereby informed that use of single-use or short life PVC flex for banners and posters is to be strictly avoided in all the Offices and Functions of the Government of Mizoram with immediate effect to help strengthen the resolve to combat plastic pollution in the country.

In this regard, use of bio-degradable alternatives to PVC flex such as cloth banners, light-weight textile fabrics, wrinkle resistant wrap knit, natural fibre-based sandwich boards, resin infused paper, particle boards, etc. is advised.