AIIMS Delhi prohibits single-use plastic in hospital premises, campus

New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has prohibited single-use plastic (SUP) items in the Hospital premises and in the campus. The move has been initiated to bring down national plastic waste outputs.

According to the office memorandum issued by Dr Srinivas on Monday said, "AIIMS New Delhi to chip in and Ban Single-Use Plastic (SUP) items in the Hospital Premises and in the Campus, in accordance with plastic waste management (Amendment) rules and also to prohibit the sale and distribution of SUP items."

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The step will certainly reiterate the importance of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) in order to bring down national plastic waste outputs, it read.

India has begun to take action to reduce plastic production, use, and disposal, by banning single-use plastic and strengthening waste management infrastructure.

India's plastic waste production has increased by more than double its 2015 size, with an average annual increase of 21.8 percent. Annually, India generates over 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste, as per findings. The implementation of Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021, on July 1, 2022, by the Government of India has attempted to prohibit the production, importation, stockpiling, sale, distribution, and use of single-use plastic (SUP) items.

By banning the use of SUPs with low utility and high littering potential, throughout the country, India has attempted to expedite its progress under SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14.1 (reducing marine pollution), among others.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that in order to make the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, a "tobacco-free zone" the premier institute had decided to take action against the doctors, permanent or contractual employees and security staff if they are found smoking or chewing tobacco on the hospital premises.

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