RV College

of Engineering®
Autonomous Institution
Affiliated to Approved by
Visvesvaraya AICTE, New Delhi
Technological
University, Belagavi

Implementation of plastic waste management

Rules in India.
By: Anwesh Rao
USN: 1RV21EC027

Introduction

Plastic waste is a major global problem, and India is taking steps to address it. The Ministry of Environment,
Forest, and Climate Change has recently amended the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. These
amendments aim to speed up the elimination of single-use plastics and promote alternatives.

The new rules include the following provisions:

 A ban on the manufacture, import, sale, and use of certain
single-use plastic items, such as plastic straws, stirrers, and
cutlery.
 A requirement for producers of plastic packaging to take
responsibility for its collection and recycling.
 The creation of a national registry of plastic producers and
plastic waste management facilities. Figure 1: Plastic Management

These new rules are a significant step forward in India's efforts to reduce plastic pollution. However, more
needs to be done to ensure that these rules are effectively implemented. Citizens can play a role by reducing
their use of single-use plastics and by recycling plastic whenever possible.

Plastic waste management rules 2016, India

The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 aimed to:

 Increase the thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 to 50 microns to
make them easier to recycle.
 Expand the rules to cover rural areas as well as urban areas.
 Make producers and generators of plastic waste responsible for its
collection and recycling.
 Collect fees from producers and vendors of plastic carry bags to fund
waste management programs.
 Promote the use of plastic waste for road construction, energy recovery, Figure 2: 50 micron plastic
or other purposes.

Mysore Road, R V Vidyanikethan Post, 080-67178020 principal@rvce.edu.in

Bengaluru – 560059, Karnataka, India 8161 www.rvce.edu.in
 RV College
of Engineering®
Autonomous Institution
Affiliated to Approved by
Visvesvaraya AICTE, New Delhi
Technological
University, Belagavi

 Increase the responsibility of waste generators to pay user charges and collect and hand over waste to
local authorities.

These rules are a step towards reducing plastic pollution in India. However, more needs to be done to ensure
that these rules are effectively implemented and that people are aware of their responsibilities.

Here are some additional things that can be done to reduce plastic pollution:
 Use reusable bags and bottles instead of disposable ones.
 Recycle plastic whenever possible.
 Dispose of plastic waste properly.
 Support businesses that are working to reduce their use of plastic.
 By taking these steps, we can all help to make a difference.

The new rules are expected to have the following outcomes:

 Plastic carry bags will become more expensive, which will discourage businesses from giving them
out for free. This will lead to an increase in the use of reusable bags.
 Producers and brand owners will be responsible for collecting
back plastic waste generated by their products. This will help to
reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and
oceans.
 Multi-layered plastic will be phased out, as it is difficult to
recycle. This will help to reduce the amount of plastic waste that
is produced.
 Institutional generators of plastic waste will be required to
segregate and store their waste properly. This will make it easier Figure 3: Multi-layered plastic
to recycle and dispose of the waste.
 Local bodies will be responsible for setting up and operating waste management systems. This will
help to ensure that plastic waste is collected and recycled properly.
 Retailers and street vendors will be required to sell and provide commodities in plastic carry bags,
plastic sheets, or multi-layered packaging that is manufactured and labelled according to the rules.
This will help to ensure that the plastic waste is recyclable.
 Shopkeepers and street vendors who want to provide plastic carry bags for dispensing any
commodity will need to register with the local body. This will help to track the use of plastic carry
bags and ensure that they are recycled properly.
 The options for reusing plastic in various applications, such as road construction, waste to oil, and
energy recovery, will help to increase the recycling of plastic.
 The responsibility for providing land for establishing waste management facilities has been given to
the Department of Business Allocation of Land Allotment in the State Government. This will help to
ensure that there is enough land available for waste management facilities.

Mysore Road, R V Vidyanikethan Post, 080-67178020 principal@rvce.edu.in

Bengaluru – 560059, Karnataka, India 8161 www.rvce.edu.in
 RV College
of Engineering®
Autonomous Institution
Affiliated to Approved by
Visvesvaraya AICTE, New Delhi
Technological
University, Belagavi

These are just some of the expected outcomes of the new rules. It is important to note that these are just
expectations, and the actual outcomes may vary.

Additional Guidelines
The Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 specified that plastic bags must be at least 40
microns thick. This was to make them easier to collect and recycle. However, the implementation of these
rules was not very effective. This was because the rules only applied to notified municipal areas, and plastic
pollution is a problem in rural areas as well.

The rules also did not address the responsibility of waste generators, or how to promote the conversion of
waste into useful resources. Additionally, the rules provided
for Extended Producers Responsibility for the establishment
of the waste management system, pricing of carry-bags, etc.
However, these provisions were not exercised by local
authorities, as they were left at the discretion of municipal
authorities.

Overall, the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling)

Rules, 2011 were a step in the right direction, but they were Figure 4: 4R's to Plastic
not effective enough to address the problem of plastic
pollution in India. More needs to be done to ensure that these rules are implemented effectively, and that
they are extended to all areas of India, including rural areas.

Here are some additional thoughts on the effectiveness of the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling)
Rules, 2011:

 The rules were a good start, but they were not comprehensive enough. They did not address the
root causes of plastic pollution, such as the over-consumption of single-use plastics and the lack
of waste management infrastructure.
 The rules were also difficult to enforce. There were no clear penalties for non-compliance, and
the enforcement agencies were under-resourced.
 The rules were also not well-publicized. Many people were not aware of the rules, or they did not
understand how to comply with them.

Despite these challenges, the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 did have some positive
impacts. They helped to raise awareness of the issue of plastic pollution, and they led to some reductions in
the use of single-use plastics. However, more needs to be done to address this problem. New, more
comprehensive rules are needed, and they must be accompanied by strong enforcement and public
awareness campaigns.

Mysore Road, R V Vidyanikethan Post, 080-67178020 principal@rvce.edu.in

Bengaluru – 560059, Karnataka, India 8161 www.rvce.edu.in
 RV College
of Engineering®
Autonomous Institution
Affiliated to Approved by
Visvesvaraya AICTE, New Delhi
Technological
University, Belagavi

Classification of plastics
These were in accordance with 2022 rules

Category 1: Rigid plastic packaging will be included under this category.

Category 2: Flexible plastic packaging of a single layer or multilayer (more than one layer with different
types of plastic), plastic sheets and covers made of plastic sheet, carry bags, plastic sachet or pouches will be
included under this category.

Category 3: Multi-layered plastic packaging (at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material
other than plastic) will be included under this category.

Category 4: Plastic sheets or like used for packaging as well as carry bags made of composite plastics fall
under this category.

The reuse of rigid plastic packaging material has been mandated in the guidelines to reduce the use of fresh
plastic material for packaging.

Plastic waste management (Amendment) Rules, 2022

These include:
 Extended producer responsibility certificates will help set up a market mechanism for plastic
waste management.
 Centralized online portal by Central pollution control board (CPCB) for registration and filing
annual returns by producers, importers, and brand owners.
 Environmental compensation will be levied based upon polluter pays principle on non-fulfilment
of EPR targets by producers, importers, and brand owners, to protect and improve the quality of
the environment and preventing, control, and abating environment pollution.
 A committee constituted by the CPCB under the chairmanship of the CPCB chairman will
recommend measures to the environment ministry for effective implementation of EPR,
including amendments to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines.
 State Pollution Control Board (SPCBs) have been tasked to submit an annual report on the EPR
portal concerning its fulfilment by producers, importers and brand-owners, and plastic waste
processors in the state/Union Territory to the CPCB.

Conclusion

There is no single eco-friendly product that can completely replace plastic in all its uses. Therefore, it would
be impractical and undesirable to impose a blanket ban on the use of plastic in India. Instead, we should
focus on improving plastic waste management systems. This includes:

Mysore Road, R V Vidyanikethan Post, 080-67178020 principal@rvce.edu.in

Bengaluru – 560059, Karnataka, India 8161 www.rvce.edu.in
 RV College
of Engineering®
Autonomous Institution
Affiliated to Approved by
Visvesvaraya AICTE, New Delhi
Technological
University, Belagavi

 Increasing public awareness about the environmental impact of plastic pollution.

 Providing more convenient and affordable options for recycling and composting plastic waste.
 Investing in research and development of new technologies for recycling and reusing plastic waste.
 Working with businesses to reduce their use of single-use plastics.
 We should also consider integrating waste management systems for other materials, such as e-waste,
into our efforts to tackle plastic pollution. This will help us to create a more comprehensive approach
to waste management and to reduce the overall environmental impact of our consumption.

Here are some additional thoughts on the challenges of managing plastic

waste,

Plastic waste is a global problem. It is estimated that over 8 million tons of

plastic waste enter the oceans every year. Plastic waste can take hundreds
of years to decompose. This means that even if we stop using plastic
today, it will continue to pollute the environment for many years to come. Figure 5: Refuse Plastic

Plastic waste can harm wildlife. Animals can become entangled in plastic waste or mistake it for food. This
can lead to injury or death. Plastic waste can pollute waterways and oceans. It can block drains and cause
flooding. It can also harm marine ecosystems.

It is clear that plastic waste is a serious problem. We need to take action to reduce our use of plastic and to
improve waste management systems. By working together, we can make a difference and protect the
environment for future generations.

Mysore Road, R V Vidyanikethan Post, 080-67178020 principal@rvce.edu.in

Bengaluru – 560059, Karnataka, India 8161 www.rvce.edu.in