In a move to make Kathmandu a plastic-free zone, the government has banned the use of polythene bags in the city effective from today, ie, 14th May. To implement the ban, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has been issuing official notices at public places and through print and broadcast media urging the public to stop using plastic bags and to use environment-friendly bags made from paper and fabrics. The anti-polythene campaign for the first five months will be targeted at raising awareness and after that those flouting the law have to pay penalty from October.