**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed the measures taken to reduce plastic consumption and promote alternatives, following the nationwide ban on single-use plastics implemented on July 1, 2022. The report outlines enforcement efforts, monitoring mechanisms, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines, and initiatives to promote eco-friendly alternatives. The response was given on 09.02.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Enforcement of Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Ban:**
* The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibited identified SUP items from 1st July 2022.
* Regular enforcement drives were conducted nationwide, leading to 862,356 inspections.
* 1990 tonnes of banned SUP items were seized, and fines totaling Rs. 19.85 crores were levied from July 2022 to January 2026.
* **Strengthening Implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules:**
* All 36 States/UTs have established Special Task Forces for eliminating SUP items and enhancing waste management.
* A National Level Taskforce coordinates efforts for the effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
* Directions have been issued under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for institutional enforcement.
* E-commerce companies, SUP sellers/users, and plastic raw material manufacturers have been directed to phase out SUP items. Custom authorities have been asked to stop importing banned SUP items.
* Online platforms, including a National Dashboard, CPCB Monitoring Module, and Grievance Redressal App, are operational for effective monitoring.
* States/UTs were asked to undertake regular enforcement drives, resulting in actions like seizure and penalties for deviations.
* **Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Guidelines:**
* Guidelines on EPR for plastic packaging were notified on February 16, 2022.
* The Guidelines stipulate mandatory targets on EPR, recycling, reuse and use of recycled content.
* The EPR Guidelines promote sustainable plastic packaging based on package design criteria.
* Around 58685 producers, importers and brand owners and 3012 plastic waste processors are registered under EPR Guidelines on plastic packaging.
* Since 2022, 191 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging waste has been processed.
* **Promotion of Eco-Alternatives:**
* The ban on SUP items has spurred the development of innovative eco-alternatives.
* A "Compendium of Manufacturers / Sellers of Eco-alternatives to Banned Single Use Plastic Items" was released on World Environment Day, 2025, detailing nearly 1000 units spread across the country.
* Bureau of Indian Standards notified Indian Standard IS 18267 for Food Serving Utensils Made from Agri By-Products.
* **Karnataka Initiatives:**
* The Government of Karnataka, along with KSPCB and ULBs, has implemented incentives and support programs for industries and startups adopting eco-friendly materials and recycling technologies.
* Startups receive incentives like reimbursement of patent filing costs, market access support, and financial assistance.
* Karnataka prioritizes Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in procurement tenders for recycling infrastructure.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees, and Custom Authorities**
* **Impact**
* Required to establish institutional mechanisms for enforcing Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and monitoring compliance.
* Customs authorities asked to stop the import of banned SUP items.
* **Action Required**
* Implement the directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
* Custom authorities to enforce restrictions on importing banned SUP items.
**E-commerce companies, SUP sellers/users, and plastic raw material manufacturers.**
* **Impact**
* Phasing out the use of identified single-use plastic items, as part of the enforcement of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
* **Action Required**
* Discontinue manufacturing, selling, or using identified SUP items.
**Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners.**
* **Impact**
* Subject to mandatory EPR targets and guidelines for managing plastic packaging waste.
* **Action Required**
* Adhere to the EPR guidelines on plastic packaging, and register on the EPR portal.
**States/UTs, and Local Authorities**
* **Impact**
* Tasked with regular enforcement drives to implement the ban on identified single-use plastic items and plastic carry bags.
* **Action Required**
* Conduct enforcement drives and take action against deviations, including seizure and penalties.
**Industries, startups, and Urban Local Bodies in Karnataka**
* **Impact**
* Access to incentives and support programs to encourage the adoption of eco-friendly materials and plastic-recycling technologies.
* **Action Required**
* Avail of support programmes by adopting eco-friendly materials, plastic alternatives, recycling technologies and circular economy solutions.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The primary ministry responsible for the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules and guidelines.
Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: The principal rules governing plastic waste management in India, which are amended and strengthened by subsequent notifications.
Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021: Amended the 2016 rules, prohibiting identified Single Use Plastic (SUP) items with effect from July 1, 2022.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Mechanism to promote sustainable plastic packaging
Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Legal basis for issuing directions for the enforcement of Plastic Waste Management Rules.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1547
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Measures to Reduce Plastic Consumption and Promote Alternatives
1547. SHRI P C MOHAN:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) the progress made in phasing out single-use plastics since the nationwide ban came into
effect in July 2022;
(b) the steps taken by the Government to monitor and enforce compliance among manufacturers
and retailers;
(c) the measures adopted to reduce overall plastic consumption, including awareness drives,
waste-segregation initiatives and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanisms;
(d) the viable alternatives such as biodegradable, paper-based or compostable materials being
promoted for packaging and daily-use products; and
(e) the incentives and support programmes introduced for industries, startups and urban local
bodies to adopt eco-friendly materials and plastic-recycling technologies, particularly in
Karnataka and Bengaluru?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified Plastic Waste Management
Amendment Rules, 2021, on 12th August 2021, prohibiting identified Single Use Plastic (SUP)
items, which have low utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1 July 2022. Regular
enforcement drives were undertaken to enforce ban on identified single use plastic items by
CPCB/SPCB/PCC along with local authorities across the country. As per details provided by
SPCB/PCC and details available at SUP compliance monitoring portal, a total of 8,62,356
inspections have been conducted and 1990 tonnes of banned single use plastic items have been
seized and a total of Rs. 19.85 crores of fine has been levied from July, 2022, till January, 2026.
(b) The following steps have been taken to strengthen implementation of Plastic Waste
Management Rules, 2016 and to implement ban on identified Single Use Plastic items:
(i) All thirty-six States/UTs have constituted the Special Task Force under the
chairpersonship of the Chief Secretary / Administrator for elimination of identified single use
Plastic items and effective plastic waste management. A National Level Taskforce has also
been constituted by the Ministry for taking coordinated efforts to eliminate identified single
use plastic items and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.(ii) Directions have been issued under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
for setting up of institutional mechanism for enforcement of provisions of Plastic Waste
Management Rules, 2016 to all State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control
Committees. Directions have also been issued to E-commerce companies, leading Single Use
Plastic sellers/users, and plastic raw material manufacturers with respect to phasing out of
identified single use plastic items. Separately, custom authorities have been asked to stop the
import of banned SUP items.
(iii) For effective monitoring of ban on identified Single Use Plastic items and plastic waste
management in the country, the following online platforms are in operation: (a) National
Dashboard for monitoring of comprehensive action plan implementation, (b) CPCB
Monitoring Module for Compliance on Elimination of Single Use Plastic, and (c) CPCB
Grievance Redressal App.
(iv) States and Union Territories have been asked to undertake regular enforcement drives
to implement ban on identified single use plastic items and on plastic carry bags having
thickness less than one hundred twenty microns covering fruit and vegetable markets,
wholesale markets, local markets, flower vendors, units manufacturing plastic carry bags etc.
Actions have been taken by concerned authorities on the deviations, which include seizure of
banned single use plastic items and levy of penalty.
(c) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also notified the Guidelines
on the Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging vide Plastic Waste Management
Amendment Rules, 2022, on 16th February, 2022. The Guidelines stipulate mandatory targets on
EPR, recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packaging and use of recycled
plastic content. The EPR Guidelines provides mechanism to promote sustainable plastic packaging
inter alia based on the following criteria: (i) package designing promoting reuse; (ii) package
designing amenable for recycling; (iii) recycled plastic content in plastic packaging material and;
(iv) package designing for environment. These steps will lead to reducing the plastic foot print of
plastic packaging.
As per information available on the dashboard of centralized Extended Producer Responsibility
(EPR) portal on plastic packaging, around 58685 producers, importers and brand owners and 3012
plastic waste processors are registered under EPR Guidelines on plastic packaging. Further, since
2022, the quantity of plastic packaging waste processed is 191 lakh Tonnes.
(d) & (e): The ban on identified single use plastic items has triggered development of innovative
eco-alternatives. Central Government, State Governments and local authorities have taken steps
on moving towards eco-friendly alternatives. Based upon the information provided by State
Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees, the Ministry of Environment, Forests
and Climate Change and Central Pollution Control Board have prepared a “Compendium of
Manufacturers / Sellers of Eco-alternatives to Banned Single Use Plastic Items”, which was
released on World Environment Day, 2025. The compendium provides details of nearly 1000 units
spread across the country. The Compendium is available on the website of CPCB for wider
dissemination and use. In keeping with the development of eco-alternatives, Bureau of Indian
Standard had earlier notified Indian Standard IS 18267 for Food Serving Utensil Made from Agri
By-Products.
The Government of Karnataka, in coordination with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board
(KSPCB), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and other stakeholder departments, has introduced andimplemented several incentives and support programmes to encourage industries, startups and
local bodies to adopt eco-friendly materials and plastic-recycling technologies. Under the
Karnataka Startup Policy and allied innovation programmes, startups working on sustainable
materials, plastic alternatives, recycling technologies and circular economy solutions are provided
incentives such as reimbursement of patent filing costs, market access support, incubation
facilities, and financial assistance through state-supported innovation funds. The Government of
Karnataka has given preference to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in procurement of goods
and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) tenders for setting up recycling
infrastructure.
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