Plastic Waste Management (amendment) Rules, 2024

Introduction to the Plastic Waste Management Rules

The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, were originally notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in order to regulate the generation, handling, collection, recycling, as well as safe disposal of plastic waste in India. These rules introduced the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), making producers, importers, as well as brand owners responsible for the post-consumer waste that is generated from their plastic products.

Over the years, the scope of the rules has been expanded in order to strengthen accountability, reduce plastic pollution, promote recycling, and curb the use of prohibited single-use plastic items. In order to further regulate compliance and bring more entities under regulatory control, the government has now introduced an amendment to these rules.

Key Changes You Need to Know

For this notification, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024 through a notification dated 14 March 2024.

As per this amendment, the scope of entities covered under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has been clearly defined and expanded to include:

1. Producers of plastic packaging.
2. Importers of plastic packaging, including intermediate materials such as films and preforms, as well as plastic packaging of imported products.
3. Brand owners, including online platforms, marketplaces, supermarkets, and retail chains.
4. Plastic Waste Processors.
5. Manufacturers of plastic raw material.
6. Manufacturers of items that are made from compostable plastic or biodegradable plastic.

The amendment clarifies the responsibilities of producers, importers, manufacturers, as well as brand owners, and strictly prohibits PIBOs from selling to unregistered entities. It also mandates labeling of recycled plastic packaging with the percentage of recycled content and strengthens controls on prohibited single-use plastic items.

Local bodies have been assigned a defined role in plastic waste management, including collection, segregation, as well as processing, while PIBOs are required to submit quarterly and annual online reports to the concerned SPCBs or PCCs.

What is the Date of Implementation?

The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024 shall come into effect from the date of their publication, i.e., 14 March 2024, and will be applicable to all covered entities from this date onward.

Now, What to Do?

With these amended rules now in force, businesses should act promptly in order to ensure compliance. In simple terms, entities should:

• Check whether they fall under the expanded EPR categories.
• Ensure registration on the EPR portal with CPCB, SPCB, or PCC, as applicable.
• Stop dealing with any unregistered producers, importers, or processors.
• Review packaging labels in order to ensure recycled content disclosure, wherever applicable.
• Put internal systems in place for timely quarterly as well as annual EPR reporting.

Brand Liaison offers comprehensive support for EPR authorization and compliance, including registration assistance, scope evaluation, reporting support, and regulatory advisory. With deep expertise in plastic waste and EPR regulations, we help businesses adapt smoothly to the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024, while also helping them avoid penalties as well as various operational disruptions.