153-lakh tons of plastic packaging waste have been processed: Rajya Sabha
During the ongoing 268th Rajya Sabha session, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change addressed questions relating to plastic waste generation and processing capacity.
12 Aug 2025 | 132 Views | By WhatPackaging? Team
On 7 August, Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, addressed the Rajya Sabha concerning plastic waste generation.
Based on information provided by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), from 2022-2023, over 40-lakh tons of plastic waste were generated. The previous year, from 2021 to 2022, over 38-lakh tons of plastic waste were generated.
In addition, as per reports by Indian states and union territories on the Integrated Management Information System of Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase Two, as of 5 December 2024, 978 plastic waste management units are currently operational.
Starting 1 July 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has prohibited identified single-use plastic items to reduce plastic pollution.
In addition, the Ministry has notified the Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging vide Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, on 16 February 2022. The Guidelines stipulate mandatory targets on producers, importers, and brand owners for the recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packaging, and use of recycled plastic content. The guidelines provide for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging and reducing the plastic footprint.
According to Singh, 153-lakh tons of plastic packaging waste have been processed by registered plastic waste processors since 2022. As per the information provided, the plastic packaging waste is covered under the EPR obligation of registered producers, importers, and brand owners.
According to data provided, in 2022-2023, 12,602 registered producers, importers, and brand owners recycled 24.96-lakh tons of plastic packaging waste (with the target being 27.22-lakh tons). In 2023-2024, 46.36-lakh tons of plastic packaging waste were recycled by 37,478 producers, importers, and brand owners (with the target being 61.52-lakh tons).