Plastic flowers under Bombay HC scrutiny

The Bombay High Court on 12 February 2025 raised several questions concerning why plastic flowers could not be included in the single-use plastic (SUP) banned list. A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre asked the centre if it was sure that plastic flowers, being flimsy, could be recycled.

The High Court even enquired if the plastic flowers were biodegradable.

The High Court was hearing a petition filed by the Growers' Flower Council of India (GFCI) seeking a ban on the use of plastic flowers. After reviewing the centre's notification, which noted that single-use plastics that are not amenable to recycling or non-biodegradable are banned, the bench questioned whether the centre was sure about not including plastic flowers in the banned list.

Referring to the centre's affidavit stating that these flowers were not on the list of banned items. The court asked, "Is the Union government sure that plastic flowers can be recycled, or that they are biodegradable? They are so flimsy. Can they be recycled?"

The bench referred to a notification issued by the Union government stating that single-use plastics, which cannot be recycled or are not biodegradable, are banned.

The bench asked, "Are you sure plastic flowers cannot be included in this list?"

The High Court directed GFCI to file an affidavit in response to the centre's stand in two weeks.

The petition claimed that the maximum thickness of the plastic flowers used for decoration is usually 30 microns. Notifications issued by the central and state governments prohibit the production, stocking, distribution, and sale of SUP items, which include items that are less than 100 microns thick. The notifications issued do not mention plastic flowers.

The petition said that the government should ban plastic flowers with a thickness of less than 100 microns.

Moreover, as per Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products (Manufacture, Usage, Sale, Transport, Handling and Storage) Notification 2018, following additional SUP items banned are all types of plastic bags (carry bags) - (with or without handle) irrespective of thickness, compostable plastic (excluding waste and nursery bags), non-woven carry bags (made of polypropylene) and SUP items such as dish, bowl, container etc. 

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has announced a list of single-use plastics that will be banned as part of a plan to reach zero plastic waste by 2030. Use of earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around the sweet boxes, invitation cards and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns, and stirrers have been included in the banned list.