Vending

Cloth bag vending machine supports plastic ban in India

Image: Adobe stock

July 14, 2026

Summarize with

A cloth carry bag vending machine has been installed at the EC Block Market in Salt Lake, India, as part of a broader state initiative to reduce plastic waste, according to a Times of India report.

The machine, unveiled Monday by health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee, dispenses reusable cloth bags for INR5, or about 6 cents, giving shoppers a low-cost alternative to single-use plastic bags.

The installation is part of a planned network of cloth and plant-fiber bag vending machines that will be deployed in markets across municipal areas over the next several months. State officials said the effort is designed to make reusable bags more accessible while supporting enforcement of a statewide ban on certain single-use plastics.

Beginning Sept. 1, authorities plan to impose fines of INR200, or about $2.30, for using banned single-use plastic products in municipal areas. The state has also directed the Pollution Control Board to notify manufacturers to stop producing prohibited plastic items or face enforcement action, as officials seek to strengthen compliance with the plastic ban.