Amid growing challenges around circularity and infrastructure development, India’s plastic waste generation increased by 23 percent over the past five years, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change stated in a written reply to Parliament. The volume of plastic waste generation has tripled over the last seven years.
According to the Ministry’s statement, India generated 4.14 million tonnes of plastic waste in the financial year (FY) 2022-23, with data still being compiled for FY2023-24 and FY2024-25 so far. This represents an increase of 6.15 percent, or 0.24 million tonnes, compared to the 3.90 million tonnes reported in the previous year. However, the FY2022-23 figure marks an almost 200 percent rise from the 1.57 million tonnes recorded in FY2016-17.
Tamil Nadu emerged as the largest plastic polluter, contributing 782,560 tonnes in FY2022-23, followed by Telangana with 528,520 tonnes and Delhi with 403,347 tonnes. Despite being geographically smaller, these states surpassed larger states such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar in plastic waste generation.
| India’s plastic waste generation |
| Financial year (April-March) | Volume (million tonnes) |
| 2022-23 | 4.14 |
| 2021-22 | 3.90 |
| 2020-21 | 4.13 |
| 2019-20 | 3.47 |
| 2018-19 | 3.36 |
| 2017-18 | 2.66 |
| 2016-17 | 1.57 |
Source: Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Government of India
Plastic waste managementThe Indian government has adopted a proactive approach to plastic waste management. Across the country, approximately 978 Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMUs) are currently operational, with a significant volume of waste being recycled. To enhance the efficiency of these units and further encourage recycling initiatives, the Government of India has allocated substantial financial support under various schemes.
Funds are released to the states and Union Territories (UTs) for all program components. States and UTs have the flexibility to utilize the funds for different components based on their approved Action Plans and priorities. Regarding the establishment of PWMUs, financial assistance of up to ₹1.6 million per block is provided for their construction. Additionally, PWMUs can be set up in cluster mode for multiple blocks, depending on requirements, within the overall funding limits available for those blocks.
Encouraging recyclingThe Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, notified by the government, mandate local bodies and gram panchayats to collect and transport plastic waste. Guidelines have been issued under the Swachh Bharat Mission for door-to-door collection of solid waste, including plastic waste, in both urban and rural areas of the country. The implementation of market-based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Plastic Packaging, notified on February 16, 2022, by India’s Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, is expected to strengthen the plastic waste management infrastructure, including the collection of plastic packaging waste.
Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs), while fulfilling their EPR obligations, may develop collection and segregation infrastructure for plastic packaging waste based on the category of plastics. This may involve various implementation modalities. The EPR Guidelines on plastic packaging prescribe mandatory targets for recycling plastic packaging waste. PIBOs meet their EPR obligations by procuring EPR certificates from registered Plastic Waste Processors. The recycled plastic produced from plastic packaging waste is used to manufacture useful products. Non-recyclable plastic packaging waste is redirected for road construction following Indian Road Congress guidelines, energy recovery, waste-to-oil conversion, and other appropriate methods.
Revisions in 2021The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibited identified single-use plastic (SUP) items with low utility and high littering potential by 2022. The amendment banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of specific single-use plastic items, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, effective from July 1, 2022.
Under this revision, plastic packaging waste not covered by the phase-out of single-use plastic items is to be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable manner through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This responsibility was legally enforced for the first time through the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021. The amendment also mandated an increase in the thickness of plastic carry bags from 50 microns to 75 microns, effective from September 30, 2021, and to 120 microns, effective from December 31, 2022.
Changes in 2022The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, introduced guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging. These guidelines set mandatory targets for EPR, recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packaging, and the incorporation of recycled plastic content. For the first time, environmental compensation was imposed on those failing to meet EPR targets, based on the polluter-pays principle.
This initiative aimed to protect and improve the environment while preventing, controlling, and reducing pollution. The polluter-pays principle holds polluters accountable for compensating for environmental damage, irrespective of intent. The amended guidelines provided a robust framework to strengthen the circular economy for plastic packaging waste.
Modifications in 2024The recent revisions notified in the Official Gazette have expanded the scope of responsibility for plastic scrap collection and recycling. While revising the definitions of manufacturers and importers, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, stated, “Manufacturers will now include any person engaged in the production of plastic raw material, including compostable and biodegradable plastics. Similarly, an importer refers to a person who imports, for commercial use, any plastic packaging or any commodity with plastic packaging, carry bags, plastic sheets, or similar materials, as well as plastic raw material in the form of resin, pellets, or intermediate materials used for manufacturing plastic packaging such as films or preforms.”
Additionally, the current amendment to the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules includes producers and importers of primary polymers and intermediate materials used for manufacturing plastic packaging. Furthermore, the amended PWM Rules 2024 now include persons engaged in contract manufacturing of products using plastic packaging or through other similar arrangements for brand owners.
Significance of the PWM ruleAccording to the apex industry body, the All India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), India consumes approximately 17 million tonnes of virgin polymers annually, with per capita plastic consumption estimated at 13 kg in the country, compared to 100 kg in the United States. The industry estimates there are around 50,000 plastic processors across the country, creating 4 million jobs, contributing ₹500,000 crore to India’s plastic economy, and paying ₹75,000 crore to the exchequer in the form of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The plastic industry is considered to be at the forefront of contributing to marquee projects of the Government of India, such as Swachh Bharat, Make in India, and the goal of achieving a ₹5 trillion economy. The total plastic recycling volume in the country is estimated at 60 percent, largely due to the efforts of informal rag pickers, whereas developed countries are recycling less than 35 percent.
By Dr. Sajjid Mitha (Founder and CEO)
POLYMERUPDATE / POLYMERUPDATE ACADEMY / RACE CONFERENCES
sajjid.mitha@polymerupdate.com
