Ordering food online is going to become expensive with the plastic ban in Mumbai. Restaurants in the city are all set to increase food delivery prices by 20 to 25 per cent. The plastic ban in Maharashtra has affected people running small and big businesses equally. And with the hefty fine amount people are resorting to costly alternatives.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, The Indian Hotels and Restaurant Association (AHAR) said the hike in the price is because the hotels will

be providing Injection Moulded Containers to deliver food. AHAR has around 8,000 restaurants and food joints in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai as its members.

Th report quoted Vishwapal Shetty, general secretary, AHAR as saying, "The plastic recyclable containers are costly and we will have to charge for them. Since a lot of Indian dishes are in the liquid form, we have found it difficult to find an alternative despite trying out many. The plastic pouches that we used previously cost us 60 paise a piece and so we gave them free. It is not possible with containers and paper bags." He also said that if customers returned the plastic containers a part of the amount will be refunded.

Ever since the plastic ban, restaurants across the city has witnessed a dip in their businesses. A few have stopped food delivery altogether. On March 23, the Maharashtra government imposed a ban on manufacturing, use, sale, distribution and storage of plastic materials such as one-time-use bags, spoons, plates, PET and PETE bottles and thermocol items. For the disposal of existing stocks, three months time has been given.

The fine for the first-time and second-time offenders will be Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively and violation of the third time will result in a fine of Rs 25,000 and a jail term for three months. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said it collected over Rs 10 lakh in fine in the first four days of the ban.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2018 04:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).