India introduces amendment to plastic waste management rules

On March 15, 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) notified the rules further amending the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 namely the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024 in the Gazette of India.  

The amendment came into force from the date of publication in the Gazette. With this amendment India is taking a significant step towards tackling plastic pollution. 

The draft rules to amend the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, were first published in the Gazette of India on October 16, 2023, inviting objections and suggestions from the public within a period of sixty days. 

Amendments Introduced 

In the amended rules, a few sections have been replaced with new clauses, including for biodegradable plastics under Extended producer Responsibility (EPR). 

 EPR is a waste and pollution management concept that encourages companies to design more sustainable and recyclable products and manufacturing processes. It also places the responsibility on manufacturers to minimize the environmental impact of their products throughout their lifecycle.  

In Rule 3, a few clauses are replaced and added relating to biodegradable plastics, importers, manufacturers, producers and sellers. Similarly, amendments are introduced in the several rules of the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2016. 

The following amendments are also included: 

• Requirements for labelling and certification of compostable or biodegradable plastics. 

• Requirements for reporting on quantities of goods placed in the market and pre-consumer waste generated. 

• Responsibility of manufacturers, producers, importers and brand owners for the collection of plastic packaging introduced. 

• Guidelines for working with local authorities on a voluntary basis. 

• Annual reporting mechanisms for various entities involved in plastic waste management. 

Extended Producer Responsibility Targets 

In Schedule II of the Rules, the Extended Producer Responsibility target, category-wise, is given in the table below, as follows:

Minimum level of recycling (excluding end-of-life disposal) of plastic packaging waste 

                                                    (% of Extended Producer Responsibility target) 

The categories are defined as follows: 

Category I: Rigid plastic packaging 

Category II: Flexible plastic packaging of single layer or multilayer, plastic sheets or like and covers made of plastic sheet, carry bags, plastics sachet or pouches. 

Category III: Multilayered plastic packaging (at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material other than plastic). 

Further details of the amendments introduced can be found here: 

https://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GSR201(E)-[14032024]-Plastic-Waste-Mangement-Rules-2024.pdf