Sikkim Bans Plastic Bottles Starting January 1, 2022

From New Year, 2022, the tourism board of Sikkim will ban single-use plastics, as well as packaged mineral water, in order to save the environment. Himalayan state, blessed with natural resources that provide clean and fresh water, is implementing this switch as part of the state government’s strategy to ban plastic in the region.

As much as possible, the ban will extend to all sectors of the state. In fact, Marcus P Rai, Joint Secretary, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, informed Economic Times that the airlines and transport companies have been asked to avoid using plastic water bottles.

Plastic will be replaced by alternatives that are more environmentally friendly and organic. We are working with villages to mass-produce bamboo bottles and other biodegradable bottles, he told the publication.

There has been a ban on not just airlines, but even homestays. According to state records, there are 915 registered homestays in the state. According to Rai, they are encouraging homestays, as they provide an authentic experience of village life. “We ask that they do not overdo the guest facilities which will ultimately dilute the authentic village experience”.

PS Tamang, the chief minister of Sikkim, also announced the state’s prohibition of packaged mineral water from January 1, 2022. The CM gave businesses a three-month buffer to deplete the existing stocks of mineral water bottles.