Guntur’s plastic challenge: Ban on single-use items, but used water bottles pile up in drains

Plastic bottles dumped into a roadside drain in Guntur highlight the challenge of managing used plastic waste even as the GMC steps up enforcement of the single-use plastic ban. | Photo Credit: T. Vijaya Kumar The Guntur Municipal Corporation’s (GMC) intensified enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics marks an important step towards protecting public health and the environment, but a look at the city’s roadside drains points to another pressing aspect of plastic management — the improper disposal of used water bottles and other plastic waste.The GMC has initiated measures to enforce the ban on prohibited single-use plastic items, with public health officials and sanitary inspectors conducting field-level monitoring and imposing fines through the ‘Swachh App’. The civic body has also undertaken awareness campaigns over the past month, distributing pamphlets through ward secretariats and using publicity material to educate shopkeepers, traders and citizens about the restrictions.The prohibited items include plastic earbuds, balloon and flag sticks, candy and ice-cream sticks, thermocol decoration material, plastic plates, cups, glasses, trays, forks, spoons, knives, straws and stirrers, besides plastic sweet boxes, plastic packaging films, sheets and covers. The GMC has also highlighted restrictions under the Central Plastic Waste Management Rules on plastic carry bags below 120 microns, non-woven carry bags below 60 GSM and plastic/PVC banners below 100 microns.Special task-force teams at the ward level are expected to conduct surprise inspections of manufacturing units, godowns, wholesale markets, retail outlets, street vendors and other commercial establishments. The GMC Commissioner K. Mayur Ashok has warned that repeated violations, despite initial fines, could lead to cancellation of trade licences and sealing of shops.These measures are significant in curbing the entry of prohibited plastic products into the city’s waste stream. However, the photograph of a roadside drain in Guntur, filled with discarded plastic water bottles and other waste, underlines a parallel challenge that deserves greater attention.The accumulation of used plastic water bottles in drains demonstrates that banning specific plastic products alone cannot resolve the city’s wider plastic-waste problem. Even where plastic containers are not covered by the particular prohibition, their careless disposal can contribute to blocked drains, unhygienic surroundings and environmental degradation.The GMC could therefore complement its enforcement drive with a focused programme to prevent the dumping of used water bottles in drains. Regular drain inspections and cleaning, stronger monitoring of littering hotspots, improved public awareness and action against those deliberately dumping waste could help address the problem.The Commissioner’s appeal for public participation should extend to responsible disposal of used plastic as well. The battle against plastic pollution needs both prevention of banned plastics and proper management of the plastic already in circulation. Published - August 29, 2026 12:52 pm IST