Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

(Amended vide notification G.S.R. 285 (E) dated March 27, 2018)
 Introduction to Plastics
• Plastic is a general term for synthetic polymerization products
• Almost all plastics are made from petroleum and are not bio-degradable
• Generally, plastics are categorized into 2 types based on their physical properties:
• Thermoplastics: which soften on heating and can be molded into desired shape
• Thermosetting plastics: which cannot be softened or remolded by heating

Plastic takes centuries to decompose in the natural environment

1000 years

450 years
30 years
2 years
1 month 2
2 weeks
months
 SYMBOL SHORT NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME USE IN
1 PET Polyethylene Water bottles, PET bottles etc.
terephthalate

2 HDPE High density Milk or detergent bags, Carry bags,

polyethylene Container etc.

3 PVC Polyvinyl chloride Cables, Pipes, Floorings etc.

4 LDPE Low density Carry bags, Films

polyethylene

5 PP Polypropylene Medicine bottles, Cereal liners, Packaging films

etc.

6 PS Polystyrene Foam packaging, Tea cups, Ice cream cups,

etc.

     
7 Thermoset plastics, Multilayer and Laminated
O Others Plastics, PUF, Bakelite, Polycarbonate,
Melamine, Nylone etc.

Recyclable plastics (thermoplastics): PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC, PS, etc.
Non-recyclable plastics (thermoset and others): Multilayer and laminated plastics,
polyurethane foam (PUF), bakelite, polycarbonate, melamine, nylon, etc.
Plastic Waste Generation and Issues in India
• As per the 2015 study conducted by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 60 major cities of
India: 4,059 tonnes per day of plastic waste was generated by these cities
• Extrapolating the data from these 60 cities, an estimated 25,940 tonnes per day of plastic waste
is generated in India
• Out of the plastic waste generated , 94% comprises of thermoplastic content which is recyclable
 Need for Plastic Waste Management
Aesthetics & Hygiene
• Plastic is an artificially created polymer compound
which can survive many centuries before nature is
able to degrade it
• It is an aesthetic nuisance than a hazard since the
material is biologically quite inert
• It is cheap and gets discarded easily, and its
persistence in environment can do great harm

Threat to birds & animals

• Plastics pose a serious danger to birds, animals and
marine animals that often mistake them for food
• Not only animals, infants and young children have
also been reported to have lost their life, on
account of suffocation by plastic bags
Need for Plastic Waste Management (contd.)
Environment
• Careless disposal of plastic bags chokes drains,
blocks the porosity of the soil, inhibits
groundwater recharge and can cause landslides
• It reduces soil fertility and can lessen the growth
of plants and trees by blocking the absorption of
minerals, water and other nutrients
Health
• Toxic chemicals found in plastic cause cancer,
birth defects, hormonal changes, diabetes, gastric
ulcer thyroid problems and cardiovascular
diseases
• Plastics when burnt release a host of poisonous
chemicals into the air
• Plastic Industry releases a large amount of carbon
monoxide, dioxin, hydrogen cyanide which cause
respiratory diseases, nervous system disorders
and immune suppression in human beings
Case Study: Plastic was a Major Contributor to the
Flood Calamity in Kerala
• With more than a quarter of a million
of people displaced and hundreds
dead, the human cost of the flood
calamity in Kerala is unimaginable
• When the flood waters receded,
enormous amount of plastic waste was
left behind on the
Malayattoor-Kodanad bridge by the
river
• Rescue operations were jeopardized
due to the plastic waste blocking the
bridge (and given lack of space & time,
the waste was thrown back into the
river)
• Water entered the colonies because
plastic waste blocked the flow towards
the tank. The blocks caused a breach in
the canal bund and residential colonies
nearby remained inundated for more
than a week
Case Study: Contamination of Indian Sea Salts with
Microplastics

Microplastics are small

pieces of plastic less than 5
millimeter in diameter
formed by the product's
gradual degradation in the
environment, especially the
sea

• Presence of microplastics in sea salt in various Countries

• The India-specific study is important because India is the third-largest producer of edible and
industrial salt (26 million metric tonnes in 2017) after China and US

Source: IIT Powai

Indians are consuming about 117 micrograms (0.117 milligrams) of microplastic annually if the
average person has a daily salt intake of 5 grams
Case Study: Disastrous impact on the health of
stray animals that often eat out of garbage
bins
Doctors removed
80kg of polythene
waste from a cow’s
stomach after
3-hour operation

• The six-year-old cow was

operated on at Patna’s Bihar
Veterinary College where
doctors removed the plastic
waste from the animal’s
stomach.

Source: HT, Patna, Feb 20,

2018
Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016

The new Rules apply to Waste generators, Local bodies, Gram Panchayats, Manufacturers, Importers
and Producers, except Export Oriented Units/Units in Special Economic Zones

The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 have been notified by the Ministry of
Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India
 Objectives of the Plastic Waste Management
Rules, 2016

To encourage
To adopt To ensure
involvement of
To enable and polluters’ pay effective plastic
waste pickers ,
To encourage ensure source principle for the waste
recyclers and
minimization of segregation and sustainability of management so
waste processors
plastic waste recycling of the waste as to minimize
in collection of
plastic waste management threat posed to
plastic waste
system the environment
fraction

The erstwhile 2011 rules were reviewed in light of the above objectives, and Plastic Waste
Management Rules, 2016 formulated
Aim of Plastic Waste Management Rules
• Increase minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40
to 50 microns
• Expand the jurisdiction of applicability from the municipal
area to rural areas
• To bring in the responsibilities of producers and
generators
• collection of plastic waste management fee through pre-
registration of the producers, importers of plastic carry
bags/multi layered packaging and vendors
• To promote use of plastic waste for road construction,
energy recovery, or waste to oil etc. for gainful utilization
of waste and also address the waste disposal issue.
 Some Important Definitions
Brand Owner:- a person or a company who sells any commodity
under a registered brand label.

Carry Bags:- bags made from plastic material or compostable

plastic material, used for the purpose of carrying or dispensing
commodities which have a self carrying feature but do not include
bags that constitute or form an integral part of the packaging in
which goods are sealed prior to use.

Compostable Plastics:- plastic that undergoes degradation by

biological processes during composting to yield co2, water, organic
compounds and biomass at a rate consistent with other unknown
compostable materials, excluding conventional petro-based
plastics , and does not leave visible, distinguishable or toxic
residue.
 Some Important Definitions –Cont..
Plastic:- material which contains as an essential ingredient a high
polymer such as polyethylene terephthalate, high density
polyethylene vinyl, low density polyethylene, polypropylene,
polystyrene resins, multi materials like acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene, polyphenylene oxide, polycarbonate, polybutyene
terephthalate.
Extended Producer’s responsibility:-the responsibility of a
producer for the environmentally sound management of the
product until the end of its life.

Facility :-the premises used for collection, storage, recycling,

processing and disposal of plastic waste.
 Some Important Definitions –Cont..
Institutional Waste Generator:- occupier of the institutional
buildings such as buildings occupied by central government
departments, state government departments, public or private
sector companies, hospitals, schools, colleges, universities or
other places of education, organization, academy, hotels,
restaurants, malls and shopping complexes.
Manufacturer:- a person or unit or agency engaged in production
of plastic raw material to be used as the raw material by the
producer.
Multi-layered Packaging:-any material used or to be used for
packaging and having at least one layer of plastic as the main
ingredient in combination with one or more materials such as
paper, paper board, polymeric materials, metalized layers of
aluminium foil, either in the form of a laminate or co-extruded
 Some Important Definitions –Cont..
Plastic Sheet :-plastic sheet is the sheet made of plastic.

Producer:- persons engaged in manufacture or import of carry

bags or multi-layered packaging or plastic sheets or like, includes
industries or individuals using plastic sheets or like covers made of
plastic sheets or multi-layered packaging for packaging or
wrapping the commodity.
Recycling:- the process of transforming segregated plastic waste
into a new product or raw material for producing new products.

Street Vendor:- shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in

clause (I) of sub-section (1) of Section 2 of Street Vendors
(Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act,
2014. (7 of 2014)
 Some Important Definitions –Cont..

VIRGIN PLASTIC :-plastic material which has not been subjected to

use earlier and has not been blended with scarp or waste.

WASTE GENERATOR :-Includes every person or group of persons

or institution, residential and commercial establishments including
Indian Railways, airport, Port and Harbour and defence
establishments which generate plastic waste.

WASTE PICKERS :-Individuals or agencies, groups of individuals

voluntarily engaged or authorized for picking of recyclable plastic
waste.
Conditions for Plastic Carry Bags and Plastic
Sheets in Packaging
The manufacture, importer stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags, plastic sheets or
like, or cover made of plastic sheet and multilayered packaging, are subject to the following:
Either be in natural shade or use only approved pigments and colorants as per Indian
Standard : IS 9833:1981
Recycled plastic carry bags not be used for storing, carrying, dispensing or packaging ready
to eat or drink food stuff
> fifty microns in thickness (except where thickness of plastic sheets in multilayer packaging
impair functionality of the product)
Compostable plastics shall conform to the Indian Standard: IS 17088:2008
Due registration required from State Pollution Control Board/Committee for Manufacturer
to sell/provide/arrange plastic as raw material for Producer
Sachets/ plastic material in any form shall not be used for storing, packing or selling gutkha,
tobacco and pan masala
Recycling of plastic waste shall conform to the Indian Standard: IS 14534:1998

The Plastic Waste Management Rules have stringent rules for plastic carry bags and plastic
sheets used in multilayered packaging
 Plastic Waste Management by Urban Local body
Recyclable plastic waste shall be channelized to registered
plastic waste recycler and recycling of plastic shall conform to
the Indian Standard: IS 14534:1998

Encourage the use of plastic waste (preferably non-recyclable) for

road construction as per Indian Road Congress guidelines or
energy recovery or waste to oil etc. with due pollution control
norms Thermo set plastic waste shall be processed and disposed off
as per CPCB Guidelines
The inert from recycling or processing facilities of plastic
waste shall be disposed off in compliance with SWM Rules
 Responsibilities of Local Body

Every Local Body shall:

Develop infrastructure for segregation, collection, storage, transportation, processing and

disposal of plastic waste
Setup, operationalize and coordinate the waste management system and perform
associated functions:
Segregation, Processing &
Engage civil
collection, Recyclable disposal of Create
Ensure no societies or Prohibit open
storage, plastic waste non-recyclabl awareness
damage to the groups burning of
transportation channelized e fraction as among
environment working with plastic waste
, processing to recyclers per CPCB stakeholders
waste pickers
and disposal norms
With assistance of Producers, setup plastic waste management within 1 year of notification
of the Rules

Frame bye-laws incorporating the provisions of these Rules

Local Bodies are responsible for setting up, operationalizing and coordinating the plastic
waste management system and perform associated functions
 Responsibilities of Waste Generators
Every waste generator shall:

Take steps to minimize generation of plastic waste

Segregate plastic waste at source in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules,
2016

Not litter plastic waste

Handover segregated waste to urban local body or gram panchayat or agencies appointed
by them or registered waste pickers’, registered recyclers or waste collection agencies
Pay such user fee or charge as may be specified in the bye-laws of the local bodies for
plastic waste management
Manage plastic waste generated from food served in plastic or multilayered packaging
during events in open spaces

Waste Generators are responsible for minimizing plastic waste, segregating it at source and
handing over to authorized players
 Responsibilities of Producers, Importers and Brand Owners

•Primary responsibility of packaging waste collection is of Producers,

Importers and Brand Owners who introduce the products in the market

•To establish waste collection system as per EPR Authorization

•Manufacture and use of non- recyclable multilayered plastic if any

should be phased out in 2 years time

•Register with the State Pollution Control Board or the Pollution Control
Committee

Producers, Importers and Brand owners who introduce products in the market, have primary
responsibility of collecting packaging plastic waste
 Prescribed Authorities
The State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committee will enforce provisions
1 of these rules relating to registration, manufacture of plastic products and multilayered
packaging, processing and disposal of plastic wastes

The concerned Secretary-in-charge of Urban Development of the State/UT shall enforce

provisions of these rules relating to waste management by waste generator, use of
2 plastic carry bags, plastic sheets or like, covers made of plastic sheets and multilayered
packaging
The concerned Gram Panchayat shall enforce the provisions of these rules relating to
waste management by the waste generator, use of plastic carry bags, plastic sheets or
3 like, covers made of plastic sheets and multilayered packaging in the rural area of the
State/UT

The authorities referred to in sub-rules (1) to (3) shall take the assistance of the District
4 Magistrate or the Deputy Commissioner within the territorial limits of the jurisdiction of
the concerned district

The SPCB/Committee and Secretary, UDD are responsible for enforcing various provisions of
the Rules with assistance from DM/DC
Responsibilities of Retailers and Street Vendors
No selling or providing commodities to consumer in carry
bags or plastic sheet or
multilayered packaging, which are not manufactured and
labelled or marked, as
prescribed under these rules

Pay such fines as specified under the bye-laws of the local

bodies, if found selling or
providing commodities in, plastic carry bags or multilayered
packaging or plastic
sheets or like or covers made of plastic sheets which are not
manufactured or
Retailers and Street Vendors have to adhere to the guidelines prescribed in the Rules for
labelled or marked inbags/plastic
plastic carry accordance with these
sheets/multilayered rules
packaging
 Explicit Pricing of Carry Bags

Local body shall

utilize the
amount paid by
the customers
Registered shop for the carry
Vendors willing to bags exclusively
keepers shall
provide Plastic display at for the
Carry bags for prominent place sustainability of
dispensing any that plastic carry the waste
commodity shall bags are given management
on payment system within
their
jurisdictions

Shopkeepers and Street Vendors can register with the Local Body, and provide
plastic carrybags to customers on payment.can register with the Local Body,
and provide plastic carry
bags to customers on payment
 State Level Monitoring Committee
• The State Government/UT shall constitute a State Level Advisory Committee for monitoring
implementation, which shall meet at least once in 6 months and invite experts, if necessary
Secretary, Department of Urban Development Chairman
Director from State Department of Environment Member
Member Secretary from State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee Member
Municipal Commissioner Member
one expert from Local Body Member
one expert from Non-Governmental organization involved in Waste Management Member
Commissioner, Value Added Tax or his nominee Member
Sales Tax Commissioner or Officer Member
Representative of Plastic /Drug /Chemical Manufacturers Association Member
one expert from the field of Industry Member
one expert from the field of academic institution Member
Director , Municipal Administration Convener

Shopkeepers and Street Vendors can register with the Local Body, and provide plastic carry
bags to customers on payment
 Plastic Waste Management

Following are few best available for Plastic Waste

Management
1.Reduction of Usage
Through IEC
Alternate Materials Usage
Through Penalties
2.Re Use
3.Recycling
 Penalties
The fines range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh and up to
five years imprisonment.
 ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC:-

Metal,
wood,
glass
Bagasse
Bio plastics
Reusable shopping
bags
Plastic additives
Jute
Coconut
bamboo
Milk protein
Chicken feather
 Re Use and Recycle
• As per the integrated solid waste management
(ISWM) hierarchy, reuse and recycling of plastic
waste are the preferred methods for managing
plastic wastes after reduction.
• But plastics cannot be recycled indefinitely; each
recycling cycle reduces the strength and utility of
the plastic.
• Energy recovery from plastics shall be
considered when recycling is no longer possible.
• Plastic waste is accepted as fuel in cement kilns;
residence times and temperatures are adequate
to preempt the production of dioxins and furans.
 Re Use and Recycle-Cont..
• Incineration of plastic wastes for energy
recovery may also be considered under strictly
controlled and monitored conditions.
• Reusing plastic waste to form polymer blended
bitumen roads is an accepted method for final
disposal of plastics in India.
• Landfilling of plastics should be avoided.
• Plasma pyrolysis and production of liquid fuel
from plastic waste are technologies being
tested; however, commercial viability of such
technologies is yet to be proven.
Options for Plastic Waste Management
Plastic waste
management

Conventional processing Disposal

technology

Recycling Incineration

Landfilling
Co-processing in cement
plants

Polymer blended
bitumen roads
Thank You