The BBMP has banned all single-use plastic in its offices and civic initiatives, in a step towards reining in the plastic menace.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner, N Manjunath Prasad, issued a circular on Saturday, banning plastic water bottles in all BBMP programmes.

“Single-use packaged drinking water bottles and other single-use plastic disposables are banned in all the BBMP offices, including the head office, and also in all public programmes organised by the BBMP,” the circular read.

The circular has added to the list of banned materials all plastic items such as carry bags, bottles, plates, cups, spoons, straws and table spreads.

“The materials are banned in the BBMP offices with immediate effect”, it said.

Speaking to DH, BBMP Special Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Randeep D said, “Apart from the council meetings, in all the BBMP official meetings and programmes, the plastic materials used for serving food and water, including the single-use packaged drinking water bottles, are banned.”

“The BBMP will only use steelware and will acquire the same soon; the budget provision is available to each office to purchase steel materials,” he added.

In a bid to control accumulating plastic waste in the city, earlier in the month of September, the civic body had issued special guidelines to wedding and banquet halls, banning plastic and had recommended the use of steelware.