The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India notified the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024 to amend the existing Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The provisions came into force on 14-3-2024.
Highlights of new Amended Rules are:
- MOEF has revised provisions relating to plastic packaging and commodities made from compostable plastics or biodegradable plastics.
- Definitions of “importer”, “manufacturer” and “producer” are revised and more clarified.
- Definition of “Seller” has been added.
- Some provisions are inserted which enables “Urban Local Bodies” and “Panchayat at District level” to assess the plastic waste generated, plastic waste management infrastructure available for collection/ segregation/ processing and to measure to prevent stocking, distribution, sale and usage of prohibited single use plastic items in their jurisdiction. The reports will also be required to be sent to the State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee by 30th June of each year.
- Revised Marking or labelling provisions:
- Each recycled plastic packaging or commodity will have to bear a label ―recycled having [—–specify percentage—–] of recycled plastic‖ and a mark as shown below and shall conform to the Indian Standard: IS 14534: 2023 titled as―Plastics — Recovery and Recycling of Plastics Waste — Guidelines, as amended from time to time.
- Each plastic packaging or commodity made from compostable plastics will have to bear a label ―compostable only under industrial composting‖ and shall conform to the Indian Standard: IS/ISO 17088:2021 titled as Specifications for Compostable Plastics.
- Each plastic packaging or commodity made from biodegradable plastic will have to bear the label ―Biodegradable in — specify number of days —] only in the [—specify recipient environment such as soil, landfill, water etc.—].
- Revisions in the forms: Form I, Form V, Form VI and Form VII.
The complete plastic waste amendment rules 2024 document can be referred from here: