Prelims: Current events of national importance | Environment & Policy
Why in News?
Recently, Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2026 introduced new mandates on recycled content in plastic packaging and altering compliance provisions.
Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016
- It is India’s first comprehensive framework for plastic regulation, introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- Key provisions (2016) - Ban on plastic carry bags below 50 microns, responsibility of local bodies for collection, introduction of (EPR).
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regime (2022)
- Obligated producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs) to collect and recycle plastic equivalent to
- 35% of baseline in 2021–22.
- 70% in 2022–23.
- 100% by 2024–25.
- Objective – Reduce plastic waste in landfills, rivers, oceans, and public spaces by making producers responsible for end‑of‑life management.
Key Amendments, 2026
- Mandatory Recycled Content –
- Old – Focus only on collection/recycling volume.
- New – Mandatory recycled plastic in new packaging.
- Target – Category I (Rigid Plastic) requires 30% recycled content in 2026–27, rising to 60% by 2028–29.
The 2026 amendment tightened obligations for Category I (rigid plastics), while keeping reuse and collection focus for Categories II & III, and reinforcing certification for Category IV.
- Rigid Plastic (Category I) – Recycled content mandate (30% → 60%).
|
- Flexible Plastic (Category II) – Reuse/recycling obligations, no strict recycled‑content mandate.
|
- Multilayered Plastic (Category III) – Collection and reuse focus, substitution encouraged.
|
- Compostable Plastic (Category IV) – Must be CPCB‑certified.
|
- New Reuse Targets - For the first time, specific reuse targets are set for rigid packaging, such as a 70% reuse target for large drinking water containers (≥4.9L) in 2025–26, eventually reaching 85%.
- Elastic Compliance (Shortfall Carry‑forward) –
- Old – Fixed annual targets; failure led to immediate penalties (Environmental Compensation).
- New – Shortfalls in 2025–26 can be carried forward for 3 years.
- Rule – Companies must clear at least 33% of the deficit annually until 2028–29.
- Shift in EPR Focus –
- Old – 100% collection target by 2024–25.
- New – Pivot toward reuse obligations; no new collection targets beyond 2025, prioritizing circularity over raw collection volume.
- Category‑Specific Rigour – Tightened reuse percentage requirements specifically for Category I (Rigid Plastic) to prevent single‑use disposal and ensure durability in supply chains.
- Enhanced Verification - Compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) can now be audited by Registered Environment Auditors, creating a more transparent and accessible verification pool than just designated agencies.
- Digital Traceability - Mandatory QR codes or barcodes on all plastic packaging are required to help regulators and consumers verify the origin and recycled content of the material.
- Exemptions and Enforcement
- Safety Standards - Recycled content mandates do not apply to packaging where its use is prohibited by other laws, such as FSSAI standards for sensitive food or medical applications.
- Decentralised Authority - Enforcement is now explicitly given to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Gram Panchayats, and District-level Panchayats, making ground-level implementation more robust.
Reference
The Hindu | Plastic Waste Management
