The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has intensified its crackdown on the use of banned plastic items, collecting over Rs 1.04 crore in fines and seizing 8,090 kg of bags and other items between October 2024 and May 2025. As many as 2,074 violations were also recorded during this period. Single-use plastic remains a common sight in many markets, with vendors citing the lack of alternatives and demands from customers as major hurdles.As per PMC data, inspections have increased significantly across high-density commercial areas. “Our key targeted areas include Mahatma Phule Mandai, Laxmi Road, Ravivar Peth, Market Yard, Tulsi Baug, and zones with street vendors. Our flying squads concentrate on places with lots of markets and shops, and we have intensified raids in mutton and chicken markets, tourist spots, etc,” said Sandip Kadam, deputy commissioner, solid waste management, PMC.“We are targeting not only retailers, but also manufacturers and distributors who supply banned plastic. Simply penalising shopkeepers is not enough. Breaking the supply chain is key to effective enforcement,” he added.Kadam confirmed that some vendors have also been fined multiple times, “We follow the official fines stipulated: Rs 5,000 for the first offence, Rs 10,000 for the second, and Rs 25,000 for repeat offenders. There are some repeat cases, but we haven’t seen resistance from anyone yet.”However, on the ground, vendors say that compliance is difficult due to customer demands and lack of options. Imtiaz Khan, a meat vendor, explained, “Our choices are really limited. Paper bags simply aren’t good enough to hold the meat properly. Even though plastic bags are more costly, I still have to use them because if I put the meat in a paper bag, it can fall out before the customer even reaches home. It’s not just about convenience but about making sure the product reaches its destination.”Sharing the same concern, a vegetable vendor said, “I can’t put potatoes in a paper bag because they are too heavy and the bag will tear easily. We tried using paper bags for a while but they often get ripped when holding wet or heavy items. Most customers do not bring bags, so we had to switch back to plastic bags even if they might not be legal because we do not have many options.”Story continues below this adA shopkeeper said, “At first we completely switched to paper bags because of the new rules, but many customers told us that their items kept falling out because the paper bags were not strong enough, and caused a lot of problems for them. Now, we keep a small number of plastic bags ready for customers who ask. It is hard to say no when they insist. But thankfully, most of my regular customers have started bringing bags from home.”The PMC said enforcement is only one part of the solution. It has been promoting eco-friendly alternatives such as cloth, jute, and certified compostable bags through awareness drives and collaborations with local self-help groups.Acknowledging the challenges, Kadam said, “Affordable alternatives are limited, and consumer behaviour remains hard to shift. We understand the economic strain that small vendors face. That is why we are working to ensure that more affordable and accessible alternatives are available.”Kivi Lydia Vito is an intern with The Indian Express.