The Capital started the Nepali New Year on an eco-friendly note, with the government declaring Kathmandu Valley a polythene bag-free zone from April 14, 2015. The declaration was made after the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MoSTE) announced the ban on the production and sale of plastic bags below 40 microns of thickness. This is not the first attempt made by the government along these lines. In 2002, the Supreme Court had advised the government to implement a ban on plastic bags. But back then, it did not follow through on the recommendation. Similarly, in 2011, the government had announced the Plastic Bags Regulation and Control Directive but was not able to monitor and implement it. This time, however, it seems the government is serious about keeping the ban in place.As soon as the announcement was made in April, Nepal police in coordination with Department of Environment (DoE), Kathmandu metropolis and Lalitpur Sub-Metropolis, had carried out a monitoring of Asan, Kalimati and Krishna Mandir area. They were successful in seizing 335 kgs of plastic bags, and the MoSTE announced that the perpetrators would be fined. But post the Great Earthquake, the momentum gained in monitoring came to a halt. However, last week, the MoSTE and DoE restarted the process and seized more than 200 kgs of polythene bags in Kathmandu. The government, therefore, seems to be serious about implementing the ban. Such seriousness on part of the government seems to have encouraged shopkeepers to implement the ban too. In particular, big supermarkets seem to be strictly abiding by the new rule. But as plastic bags have been an indispensable commodity for the Nepali people for a very long time, it might take some time for the ban to yield results. Further, the government needs to persistently monitor the use of plastics for effective results. Strict implementation of the ban would greatly help the cause of keeping the environment clean and the African nation of Rwanda is one such example. The Rwandan government banned polythene bags in 2008 by enforcing strict laws, one year prison for the businesses that violate the ban and hefty fines for people who are caught using plastic bags.Thin polythene bags, nonetheless, are not the only plastic that can be seen lying in the city. Many people continue to throw chocolate wrappers and plastic bottles on the streets. So, along with this plastic bag ban the Kathmandu Metropolitan City authorities should also install more dustbins around the city to discourage people from littering public spaces. Citizens on their part should restrain from throwing garbage on the streets and also teach children not to do so. For, keeping the city clean is a collective effort.