This follows the recent government notification of a blanket ban on plastic bags at major shopping areas in the city. Biodegradable plastic bags of thickness up to 40 microns have, however, been allowed in minor shopping areas.

A major concern voiced by shopkeepers’ associations in Delhi is the present price tag on these bags, which is two to three times more than a regular plastic bag. Biodegradable plastic manufacturers are at present in talks with the government to enter the Capital’s markets at subsidised prices.

“We have written to the Delhi government asking for customs duty and VAT exemptions for biodegradable bag manufacturers. Many such bag manufacturers met us expressing a desire to supply to Delhi, but the prices of the bags are a major concern,” a senior Environment department official said.

There are two kinds of biodegradable bags available in the market: while one breaks down into smaller molecules of plastic, bio-compostable bags break down completely to form compost. Both bags have starch components, and raw material for the bags is expensive.

“Biodegradable bags have expensive components, which is why the bags cost two to three times more than a plastic bag,” said Rakesh Kumar of Avesthagen, a biodegradable plastic manufacturer based in Bangalore who is planning for expansion in Delhi.

“We have approached the government. We are looking for a tax relaxation or a VAT exemption to make these bags economically feasible to the public,” he said.