The amended Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rule 2024 has prohibited the sale of plastic raw materials i.e. polymers to the unregistered units engaged in the manufacturing of finished products, and banned single-use plastic (SUP) items. The latest amendment in the PWM rule is considered a clear indication for unscrupulous traders and unorganized sector players to speed up the transition to the formal channel and adopt ethical business practices.
The revised PWM rule orders every manufacture and importer of plastic raw material to make an application to the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or the Pollution Control Committee (PCC) concerned, whichever the case may be, for registration. Although the deadline for submitting application for registration has not been fixed, the plastic industry considers it ‘urgent’ for mandatory licensing for smooth business. If the registration is not granted within 30 days after the receipt of applications complete in all respects, the applicant shall be deemed to be registered under these rules on the expiry of such period, the PWM rule said.
“For PWM rules, the manufacturer and importer of plastic raw material will sell plastic raw material only to producers or retailers registered under these rules, and the registration number of such producer or seller is mentioned on the sale invoice for the sale of plastic raw material. Manufacturers and importers are asked not to sell plastic raw material to any entity or units engaged in manufacturing of prohibited single-use plastic items,” reads the amended PWM rule.
| India’s plastic fact file |
| Particulars | Volume |
| India’s actual plastic consumption (2021-22) | 20.89 million tonnes |
| Consumption projection for 2022-23 | 22 million tonnes |
| Scrap generation (per year) (A) | 9.46 million tonnes |
| Cumulative mishandled volume burnt, buried in landfills, and incinerated (@40% per year) | 3.78 million tonnes |
| Cumulative scrap for recycling (@12% of A) | 450,000 tonnes |
| Registered recycling units with CPCB | 4,953 Unit |
| Un-registered recycling units | 823 Unit |
| Handling by the informal sector | 42-86% |
| Large corporate such as Godrej & Boyce, Nestle India, Dabur, and HUL, among other, have achieved | 100% carbon neutral or, plastic-free |
| India’s Pledge for net-zero | By 2070 |
Sources: Industry, and websites of individual companies; CPCB = Central Pollution Control Board
Additionally, the amended PWM rule has asked polymer wholesalers or retailers to mention on all packaging bags mandatorily, “Not to be used in the manufacture of single-use plastic items prohibited under the PWM rule 2016 including plastic sheets < 50 micron thickness, non-woven carry bags < 60 gram per square metre (GSM), carry bags < 120 micron thickness.”
Released recently, the fourth revision in the amendment of the PWM rule brings the entire value chain into the system including primary polymer manufacturers and importers who were excluded earlier. The PWM rule was drafted to formalize plastic circularity and create a separate plastic economy to make recycling of used materials a viable business. Although several recycling units mushroomed during the last few years, most single-unit players struggled for survival. Consequently, plastics waste recycling business could not take off the speed as the government or business entrepreneurs anticipated.
PWM Rules, 2016The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, was originally conceptualized several decades ago, but the Act came into the limelight in 2016 with existing, and entrepreneurs taking a separate business opportunity. The PWM rules 2016 mandated the generators of plastic waste take steps to minimize the generation of plastic waste. Furthermore, the rule accelerated the possible implication of mishandling plastic waste and advised common users not to litter in the open space either in the form of landfills or by the side of the river or sea.
Eventually, the PWM rules 2016 also advised the local Municipal Corporation or State Committee to facilitate the segregation of plastic waste at source for individuals and bulk generators. Furthermore, the segregated plastic waste needed to be despatched to the recycling units, according to the rules.
The PWM Rules, 2016 cast Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on Producer, Importer, and Brand Owners (PIBOs), and EPR was made applicable to both pre-consumer and post-consumer plastic packaging waste. The rule further increased the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 microns to 50 microns and stipulated a minimum thickness of 50 microns for plastic sheets. It also expanded the jurisdiction of applicability from municipal areas to rural areas. On implementation of the amended rule, local Gram Panchayat in rural areas was empowered to monitor the progress of the PWM rule 2016.
Amendment in 2018The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2018 mandated phasing out of multi-layered plastic (MLP) (material used or to be used for packaging and having at least one layer of plastic) was made applicable to MLP which are ‘non-recyclable, or non-energy recoverable, or with no alternate use.’ The amended rule prescribed a central registration system for enrolling the producer/importer or brand owner of plastics.
The centralized registration system was asked to be evolved by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the registration of the producer/importer or brand owner. The rules aimed to streamline the registration process for producers, importers, and brand owners, while also providing a mechanism for phasing out non-recyclable multi-layered plastics.
Revisions in 2021The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021 prohibited identified single-use plastic (SUP) items that have low utility and high littering potential by 2022. The amendment rule prohibited the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of certain single-use plastic items including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene from 1st July 2022.
With this revision, plastic packaging waste not covered by the phase-out of single-use plastic items will be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable way through Extended Producer Responsibility. This responsibility was legally enforced for the first time through the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021. The amendment also increased the thickness of plastic carry bags from 50 microns to 75 microns with effect from September 30, 2021, and to 120 microns with effect from December 31, 2022.
Changes in 2022The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022 introduced guidelines on EPR for plastic packaging. These guidelines set mandatory targets for EPR, recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packaging, and the use of recycled plastic content. Environmental compensation was imposed for the first time on those who fail to meet EPR targets, based on the polluter pays principle.
This was meant to protect and improve the environment, and prevent, control, and reduce pollution. The principle holds polluters responsible for compensating for the damage caused to the environment, regardless of their intent. The amended guidelines provided a framework to strengthen the circular economy of plastic packaging waste.
Modifications in 2024The present revisions notified in the Official Gazette recently widened the scope of responsibility for plastic scrap collection and recycling. While revision the definition of manufacturers and importers, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, said, “Manufacturers will now include a person engaged in the production of plastic raw material, including compostable and biodegradable plastics. Similarly, importer means a person who imports for commercial use, any plastic packaging or any commodity with plastic packaging or carry bags or plastic sheets or like material, or plastic raw material including in the form of resin or pellets, or intermediate material to be used for manufacturing plastic packaging such as films or preforms.”
Additionally, the present amendment in the PWM rule brings in producers and importers of primary polymers and intermediate materials to be used for manufacturing plastic packaging. Also, the amended PWM rule 2024, includes the person engaged in contract manufacturing of products using plastic packaging or through other similar arrangements for brand owners.
Significance of the PWM ruleAccording to the apex industry body All India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), India consumes around 17 million tonnes of virgin polymers per year, with per capita plastic consumption estimated at 13 kgs in the country as against 100 kgs in the United States. The industry estimates approximately 50,000 plastic processors across the country, creating 4 million jobs and contributing Rs 500,000 crore plastic economy to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and paying Rs 75,000 crore to the exchequer in the form of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The plastic industry is considered to be at the forefront of contributing to the marquee projects of the Government of India like Swachh Bharat, Make in India, and a Rs 5 trillion economy. The total recycling volume of plastic in the country is estimated at 60 percent of plastic, thanks to the informal rag pickers, whereas developed countries are still recycling less than 35 percent.
AIPMA further estimates plastics have the least carbon footprint compared to alternatives and help fight global warming and climate change. The Association emphasized the segregation of plastic waste at source to streamline waste management and smoothen recycling to the maximum possible extent.
DILIP KUMAR JHA
Editor
dilip.jha@polymerupdate.com
