UGC urges HEIs to ban single-use plastic on campus; issues guidelines

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a list of guidelines for all higher education institutions (HEls) to reduce the use of plastic, particularly single-use plastics. The detrimental effects of using these materials pose long-term challenges, threatening our environment, public health, and waste management systems, and involving significant cleanup costs.

As per UGC, all HEls must take decisive and immediate action to phase out single-use plastics from daily lives. Institutes not only should educate students on the importance of environmental stewardship but also engage in impactful research that fosters a deeper understanding of sustainable practices.

Moreover, UGC urges HEIs to connect with local communities and encourage activism. HEIs can cultivate a sense of ethical citizenship among their students and faculty, ultimately contributing to a more informed and socially responsible society.

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UGC: Guidelines to ban single-use plastics in HEIs

UGC has issued guidelines applicable to all higher educational institutions (HEIs) as follows:

• HIE’s must ban the use of single-use plastics in canteens, shopping complexes in the institution’s premises and hostels, etc.

• HEIs should carry out awareness drives and sensitization workshops on the harmful impacts of single-use plastics.

• All students must avoid bringing non-biodegradable plastic items to the institution.

• HEIs must encourage their students to sensitize their respective households about the harmful effects of plastics and make their households ‘plastic-free’

• Install necessary alternative facilities like water units to avoid the use of plastic water bottles, and encourage the use of alternative solutions like cloth bags, paper bags, etc, instead of plastic bottles, bags, covers, and other goods on campuses.