Transforming Plastic Waste Management in India

As World Environment Day reminds us of our collective responsibility toward the planet, global plastic consumption is set to exceed half a billion tons this year—a 30% jump in just 12 months. India has taken progressive legislative steps by updating its Plastic Waste Management Rules through 2024, that position the country ahead of many nations. However, critical implementation challenges persist, including inadequate collection and recycling infrastructure, widespread lack of awareness, and poor disposal practices leading to burning and abandonment of plastics. India's unique position to influence global sustainability targets requires adopting a lifecycle approach grounded in circularity principles while building a comprehensive movement that bridges policy vision with ground-level execution. 

What are the Key Provisions and Institutional Mechanisms Under India’s Plastic Waste Management Framework? 

• Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016:  Focused on waste segregation at source, manufacturer responsibility, and user fees for waste collection, ensuring scientific waste management practices. 
• Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: Introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic producers, raising plastic carry bag thickness to 50 microns. It mandated segregation and proper disposal of plastic waste, including rural areas in the implementation. 
• Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2018: Phased out non-recyclable multi-layered plastics (MLP) and introduced a registration system for producers under CPCB, enhancing accountability in plastic waste management. 
• Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021:  Banned single-use plastics (SUPs) by 2022 and increased plastic bag thickness to 120 microns. Strengthened EPR rules for packaging waste, promoting recycling and design for reuse. 
• Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022:  Set mandatory recycling and reuse targets with environmental compensation for non-compliance. Promoted a circular economy approach for plastic recovery and reuse. 
• Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2024: Defined registration, reporting, and certification requirements for manufacturers. Introduced certification for biodegradable plastics and mandates reporting of pre-consumer plastic waste. 
• National Dashboard for Single-Use Plastics:  Launched a nationwide awareness campaign on SUPs, along with a grievance redressal app for citizens to report illegal plastic activities and monitor compliance. 
• India Plastics Pact: India’s first Plastics Pact, aiming for a reduction, reuse, and recycling of plastics across the value chain, bringing together stakeholders to promote circularity. 
• Project REPLAN: Khadi and Village Industries Commission launched REPLAN, offering sustainable alternatives to plastic bags, reducing plastic usage through cloth bags. 

What Factors Are Undermining the Effectiveness of India’s Plastic Waste Management Framework? 

• Inadequate Infrastructure for Waste Collection and Recycling: While urban local bodies (ULBs) are mandated to ensure 100% waste segregation and access to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), much of the infrastructure is insufficient or poorly managed.  
  • As a result, the informal sector manages over 60% of plastic recycling, but lacks recognition and integration into formal systems. 
  • Recent data reveals that only 8-10% of India’s daily plastic waste (26,000 tonnes) gets recycled, with the rest either burned or dumped in landfills and waterways.  
• Weak Enforcement of Plastic Waste Management Laws: Although India has enacted Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules (2016) and subsequent amendments, enforcement remains weak, especially at local levels.  
  • Bans on single-use plastics (SUPs) rules are often flouted, and non-compliance is widespread.  
  • For instance, Despite a nationwide ban on single-use plastics, carry bags under 120 microns continue to be sold, with data showing 775,577 kg of banned plastics seized in 2023 but the broader market still flooded with them.  
    • For instance, in Maharashtra, over 80% of plastic debris on beaches still comprises banned SUPs, illustrating the failure to implement these bans effectively. 
• Inadequate Alternatives and Innovation in Plastic Substitutes:  While India has attempted to phase out plastics, research indicates that the plastic-alternatives market is niche, with few cost-effective and widely available substitutes.  
  • In Madhya Pradesh, sal-leaf plates are a successful alternative, but such solutions are not scalable across the country.  
  • The failure to incentivize alternative industries means that plastic consumption continues to surge, with plastic waste only growing annually by 9%. 
• Fragmented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) System: The EPR system in India, although a step forward, is largely inefficient due to weak compliance monitoring and reliance on self-reporting.  
  • Producers are supposed to collect and recycle an equivalent amount of plastic waste they produce, but lack of third-party auditing and data transparency has led to subpar outcomes. 
  • Recent reports indicate that only a fraction of producers, importers, and brand owners have adhered to EPR targets, with over 70% of registered companies failing to meet plastic collection and recycling goals.  
• Public Awareness and Behavioral Change Gaps: The lack of comprehensive public awareness is another critical factor undermining India's plastic waste management.  
  • While there are sporadic campaigns like the Swachh Bharat Mission, they largely fail to engage communities and promote long-term behavior change. 
  • Despite national bans on plastics, field surveys reveal that in 2023, public adherence to plastic bans was only 50-60%, with low awareness regarding the harmful environmental effects of plastics.  
    • Data from Delhi shows that 690 tonnes of plastic waste are generated every day, indicating that simple awareness campaigns have had limited success in changing consumer habits.  
• Fragmentation in Governance and Policy Implementation: India’s plastic waste management suffers from fragmented governance at multiple levels, from local municipal bodies to state and national agencies.  
  • The diverse nature of India’s waste sector, including both formal and informal stakeholders, leads to confusion and delays in policy implementation. 
  • For instance, municipalities like Pune and Chhattisgarh’s Ambikapur have made progress, but national-level coordination is often lacking, with local bodies unable to implement strategies without central support.  
    • With informal workers handling 60% of recycling, their exclusion from formal systems hinders effectiveness and complicates governance. 

What Measures can Enhance the Effectiveness of Plastic Waste Management in India? 

• Decentralized Waste Processing Infrastructure: Instead of relying solely on large-scale centralized waste management systems, the focus should shift to creating decentralized, localized infrastructure like Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) at the community or ward level.  
  • These MRFs should be equipped with modern sorting technologies like AI-powered sorting machines, making it easier to separate plastics from other waste types.  
    • This would not only reduce transportation costs but also ensure quicker processing and higher recycling rates. 
• Enhanced Community Involvement through Micro-segregation: One critical way to enhance local waste management is by promoting micro-level segregation in communities. 
  • This involves encouraging households and local businesses to segregate waste at the point of generation, specifically plastics, food waste, and non-recyclables.  
  • Local waste collection systems can be incentivized by offering rewards or recognition (Indore Model) to those consistently following proper segregation, thus creating a community-driven approach to plastic waste management. 
• Public-Private Partnerships for Technology Adoption: To improve recycling infrastructure, the government should encourage public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the development of advanced sorting technologies and waste-to-energy systems. 
  • The government can encourage the use of plastic waste as raw material for 3D printing by developing facilities that convert plastic waste into high-quality 3D printing filament. 
  • Government incentives and subsidies for clean-tech startups in the waste management sector can spur growth in sustainable solutions. 
    • In 2016, the Government of India announced a mandate for the use of plastic waste in road construction, which has since led to the construction of over 100,000 kilometers of roads using this technology, which is a significant step in the right direction.  
• Circular Economy-Based Incentives for Businesses: India can implement a circular economy model by offering financial incentives for businesses that use recycled materials or produce reusable packaging.  
  • This could include tax breaks, credits, or grants for adopting closed-loop production systems.  
  • Encouraging businesses to embrace a cradle-to-cradle approach would ensure resource efficiency while driving industry-wide shifts toward sustainable plastic use and waste reduction. 
• National Plastic Waste Awareness and Education Campaigns: Comprehensive nationwide education campaigns should be launched, targeting both urban and rural populations, to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of plastic and the importance of waste segregation.  
  • These campaigns should focus on behavioral change, incorporating the significance of sustainable consumption and responsible disposal practices. School-based programs can also instill a culture of waste management at an early age. 
• Regulated Market for Plastic Alternatives: India should facilitate the development of a regulated market for plastic alternatives by incentivizing the production of materials such as plant-based bioplastics and compostable packaging.  
  • Set up innovation hubs or incubators focused on the research and development of biodegradable plastic alternatives.  
    • These hubs can bring together scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to explore new materials, such as plant-based plastics or plastic-like materials made from seaweed or mushrooms, that can decompose in the environment. 
• Stronger Enforcement of Plastic Bans through Technology: A more tech-driven approach to enforcement should be adopted, including the use of data analytics and AI-powered surveillance to track plastic usage and sales in real-time.  
  • Mobile apps can be developed for citizens to report illegal plastic activities, and penalties can be automated through a centralized digital platform that connects regulators and the public.  
    • This would enhance monitoring and ensure swift action against violators. 
• Incorporation of Waste Pickers into Formal Systems: Waste pickers, who currently contribute significantly to recycling, should be formally integrated into the waste management system.  
  • This includes providing them with legal recognition, health benefits, and a fair wage structure.  
  • By empowering the informal sector and integrating them into formal recycling chains, India can significantly improve collection efficiency and reduce plastic leakage into the environment. 
• Implementation of Plastic Credits for Plastic Offset Programs: India can start trails to introduce a plastic credit system, allowing businesses to offset their plastic footprint by purchasing credits from verified plastic recovery and recycling programs.  
  • This would incentivize companies to invest in plastic waste recovery and support innovative waste management initiatives.  
  • The introduction of plastic credits could also promote private sector involvement in tackling plastic pollution. 
• Strengthening Plastic Waste Regulations for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): There should be a focused effort to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) transition from plastic use to sustainable alternatives. Government programs can offer subsidies, training, and technology support to these businesses, ensuring they adopt eco-friendly practices without compromising their operations.  
  • Streamlining the process for SMEs to adopt compliance with plastic waste regulations would facilitate their participation in national plastic reduction goals.

Conclusion:

Implementing decentralized waste processing and fostering community involvement through micro-segregation are key to achieving SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Encouraging public-private partnerships for innovation and establishing circular economy-based incentives can accelerate India’s transition to sustainable plastic management. These efforts align with India’s goals of reducing waste, enhancing recycling, and promoting environmental sustainability. 

Drishti Mains Question: Examine the challenges in plastic waste management in India. How can India effectively implement a circular economy approach to address these challenges and promote sustainability?