India’s Plastic Regulation Framework

Recycled Plastics (Manufacture & Usage) Rules, 1999

• The first government rule on plastic waste in India

• Notified to control the packaging of food products in recycled packaging and to manage the severe littering problem

• Banned bags under 20 microns

• Discouraged the use of recycled and virgin-colored poly bags for food packaging applications
  
  

Recycled Plastics (Manufacture & Usage) Rules [Amended 2003]

• Prohibited the manufacture, stocking, distribution, or selling of carrying bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than 20x30 centimeters in size and/or 20 microns in thickness.

• Banned the use of recycled plastic bags and containers for storing, carrying, dispensing, or packaging food items.

• Made it mandatory for units manufacturing plastic bags to register with the respective State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Pollution Control Committee (PCC) before starting production.
  
  

The Plastics Rules, 2009

• Superseded the 1999 rules.

• Prohibited use of carrying bags or containers made of recycled or biodegradable plastics for storing, carrying, dispensing, or packaging food.

• Forbade manufacturing of carrying bags, containers, or pouches packaging from biodegradable plastics unless these meet the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications.
  
  

Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011

• The minimum thickness of plastic bags raised to 40 microns.

• Recycled carry bags made from compostable plastics also required to conform to BIS standards.

• Banned the use of plastic sachets for storing, packing, or selling tobacco-based products.

• Required municipal authorities to constructively engage waste pickers, agencies, or groups working in waste management.
  
  

Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

• Required producers to develop a waste collection system based on extended producer responsibility.

• Stated that the manufacture and use of non-recyclable multilayer plastic should be phased out within two years.

• Established the primary responsibility for the collection of used multi-layered plastic sachets or pouches or packaging as that of the producers, importers, or brand owners who introduce them in the market.
  
  

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2018

• Made its predecessor’s multilayered plastic (MLP) phase-out plan also applicable to MLP which is non-recyclable, non-energy recoverable, or with no alternate use.

• Created an automated central registration system for the registration of the producer/importer/brand owner of said plastics.
  
  

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021

• Intended to prohibit identified single-use plastic items that have low utility and high littering potential by 2022

• Banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of the following single-use plastic products:

  • Earbuds with plastic sticks

  • Plastic sticks for balloons

  • Plastic flags

  • Candy sticks

  • Ice-cream sticks

  • Thermocol for decoration

  • Plates, cups, glasses

  • Cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays

  • Wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets

  • Plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns

  • Stirrers

• Increased the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 50 microns to 75 microns until 31st December 2021 and 120 microns thereafter. Was done to encourage the reuse of the bags and hence reduce waste.

• The plastic packaging waste, which is not covered under the phase-out of identified single-use plastic items, shall be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable way through the Extended Producer Responsibility of the producer, importer, and brand owner.
  
  

In spite of such stringent laws, the plastic waste management condition on the ground is abysmal. Due to minimal implementation efforts from the authorities and a low level of citizen awareness about the relevant legislation, India continues to be heavily ensnared by the impacts of plastic pollution. 

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