HYDERABAD: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has instructed all the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country the strictly implement the ban on the single-use plastic on their respective campuses.
The guidelines issue in this regard is binding on all HEIs to attain cleaner and plastic-free campuses, a notification issued by the UGC said.
Guidelines have been issued for adoption and the UGC will do a follow-up to ensure that the educational institutions strictly enforce the ban on single-use items and dispose plastic properly.
“We urge Higher Education Institutions to amplify their efforts in tackling the pervasive issue of single-use plastics. This initiative is crucial not only for protecting our environment but also for safeguarding human health, addressing waste management challenges, combating climate change and promoting economic sustainability,” said the official notification.
UGC Guidelines on plastic ban
- All HEIs shall ensure a ban on single-use plastics in canteens, shopping complexes and institute premises.
- HEIs shall carry out awareness drives and sensitization workshops on the harmful impacts of single-use plastic.
- They shall mandate all students to avoid bringing non-biodegradable plastic items to the institute.
- The HEIs shall encourage students to sensitise their households about the harmful effects of plastic and make their households ‘plastic-free’.
- HEIs shall install the necessary alternative facilities such as water units to avoid the use of plastic bottles and encourage the use of alternative solutions like cloth bags, paper bags, etc.
- All HEIs who have adopted villages under ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ need to ensure undertaking a campaign in their adopted villages to make those ‘plastic-free’.
- The HEIs have been urged to create awareness on clean and plastic-free environment.
To view the notification, click here.