The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) has threatened to cancel the trade licence of traders if they are found using plastic carry bags or styrofoam items.

According to the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than 75 microns have been banned.

Since July 1, the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of many single-use plastic items made of styrofoam and other products like plastic cups, plates, cutlery, ice-cream sticks, candy sticks, straws, wrapping and polystyrene have also been banned across the country.

“We have been repeatedly appealing to the traders in local markets not to use plastic carry bags or styrofoam items. But if they will ignore it and continue to use the banned items, we have to take some action against the offenders and we might stop renewal of their trade licences,” Ranjan Sarkar, the deputy mayor of the SMC, said during a visit to Bidhan Market on Sunday.