Providing free polythene shopping bags used for carrying goods will be banned from tomorrow (Nov. 01), according to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA).
In an extraordinary gazette notification issued on Oct. 01, the CAA made it mandatory for vendors to indicate the price of shopping bags on bills issued to consumers.
The notification adds that container bags made of low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LDPE) must not be provided free of charge.
It further instructs that businesses must prominently display the price of these bags at their premises.
The new charges will be Rs. 3 for a medium-sized handle bag and Rs. 5 for a large handle bag.
Meanwhile, leading retailers, including Keells, Cargills Food City, Laugfs Super, SPAR, and Glomark, have jointly announced the measure, encouraging shoppers to bring their own reusable bags.
“The change is a small step that makes a big difference,” the joint statement noted, urging the public to support the transition to environmentally responsible shopping practices.
