See Full Document Text
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3119
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2026
Plastic waste management
3119. SHRI. HARSH MAHAJAN:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the rules/guidelines presently in force for plastic waste management in the country and the
status of their effective implementation;
(b) the details of processes being adopted for collection, segregation, processing and recycling
of plastic waste and the role of States/local bodies therein;
(c) the status of compliance with the ban on single-use plastic and the penal action taken so far
in cases of violations; and
(d) the steps being taken by Government to promote recycling and innovation for utilization of
plastic waste in energy generation, road construction and other applications
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b): The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, provide the statutory framework for
environmentally sound management of plastic waste across the country. The Plastic Waste
Management Rules inter alia mandate local bodies and gram panchayats operationalize and
coordinate plastic waste management system, which includes collection, segregation, storage,
transportation, channelization for processing and disposal of plastic waste in the areas under
their jurisdiction. The rules also mandate Producers, Importers and Brand Owners for fulfilling
Extended Producer Responsibility on plastic packaging introduced by them in the market.
Guidelines have also been issued under Swachh Bharat Mission for solid waste management
including plastic waste management for urban and rural areas of the country. Further, the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also notified the Guidelines on
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging vide Plastic Waste Management
(Amendment) Rules, 2022, on 16th February, 2022. 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.(c): In order to reduce pollution caused by littered and unmanaged plastic waste, the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has already prohibited identified single
use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1 July,
2022. 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. As per details provided by SPCB/PCC and
details available at SUP compliance monitoring portal, a total of 8,61,908 inspections have
been conducted and 1989 tonnes of banned single use plastic items have been seized and a total
of Rs. 19.83 crores of fine has been levied, since July, 2022.
(d): The Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging
stipulate mandatory targets on Producers, Importers and Brand owners (PIBOs) for recycling
of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packaging and use of recycled plastic content.
The guidelines provide for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging and reducing the
plastic foot print. As per EPR Guidelines, PIBOs are mandated to channelize only those
plastics, which cannot be recycled for end of life disposal such as road construction, waste to
energy, waste to oil, as per relevant guidelines issued by Indian Road Congress or Central
Pollution Control Board from time to time.
***