The Nagaland Home Department has directed all village authorities across the State to strictly enforce the total ban on Single-Use Plastic (SUP) in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment dated February 14, 2026, and the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021 notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The directive was issued in continuation of earlier notifications of the Urban Development Department, Government of Nagaland, regarding prohibition and regulation of plastic waste and single-use plastic items.
According to the notification, all village authorities have been instructed to strictly prohibit the use, sale, storage, and distribution of banned plastic items within their respective jurisdictions and ensure proper implementation of the ban.
The banned items include all plastic carry bags with or without handles irrespective of thickness and size, plastic cutlery such as plates, cups, forks, spoons, straws, Styrofoam (thermocol) decorative materials, polythene, nylon, Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), polypropylene, and polystyrene materials.
The order further reiterated the ban imposed through the Urban Development Department notification dated December 6, 2020, prohibiting the use of flex banners, boards, and posters by government departments, institutions, and agencies during official functions and programmes.
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Additionally, in accordance with the March 11, 2022 notification, several other SUP items remain prohibited, including ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic balloon sticks, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, thermocol decorations, disposable plates, cups, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping films around sweet boxes, invitation cards and cigarette packets, plastic stirrers, and PVC banners below 100 microns.
The Home Department also reiterated the earlier notification dated November 29, 2018, imposing a total ban on packaged drinking water bottles below 20 litres capacity during meetings, seminars, functions, and for personal consumption.
Deputy Commissioners of all districts have been directed to immediately disseminate the instructions to all village authorities and ensure strict compliance. The DCs have also been asked to take necessary measures for mandatory collection and safe disposal of banned single-use plastic waste by village authorities.
