The Maharashtra government has told the Bombay High Court that it has asked all local authorities to set up a mechanism to arrange the collection, transportation, and disposal of banned plastic items and plastic waste.

The government had on March 23 issued a notification imposing a ban on manufacture, use, sale, distribution and storage of all plastic materials, including one-time use bags, spoons, plates, PET and PETE bottles and thermocol items.

The notification was, however, challenged in HC by plastic, PET bottle and thermocol manufacturers and retail associations on the ground that the ban was arbitrary, bad in law and violated their fundamental right to livelihood.