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The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) has recently released the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2021.
Below is a list of amendments made to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
In a brief summary:
- Applicability of the rules are extended to brand-owner, plastic waste processor (recycler,co-processor, etc.) as well.
- Definitions of items such as the non-woven bag, thermoplastics, thermo set plastics and other processes such as plastic waste processing were detailed.
- Thickness of plastic carry bags made from virgin plastic is has been increased from:
- Earlier it was 50, which has been changed to 75 microns in thickness with effect from the 30th September, 2021, and
- 120 microns in thickness with effect from the 31st December, 2022
- Ban on single-use plastics extended to 1st July 2022
- Non-woven Plastic bags were given a standard of 60 GSM
….and more
The table below is a brief summary of the amendments (for the official amendment document please find the links at the bottom).
Please note: the words in ‘BOLD‘ indicate the newly added words/sentences to the PWM Rules, 2016.
| As per Plastic waste rules amendment 2021 (August) | Prior to Amendment |
| ….Also, apply to, brand-owner, plastic waste processor (recycler, co-processor, etc.) | These rules shall apply to every waste generator, local body, Gram Panchayat, manufacturer, Importers, and producer. |
| Rule 3: Definitions | |
| Non-Woven Plastic bags defined The non-woven plastic bag is made up of plastic sheets or web structured fabric of entangled plastic fibers or filaments (and by perforating films) bonded together by mechanical or thermal or chemical means, and the “non-woven fabric” means a flat or tufted porous sheet that is made directly from plastic fibers, molten plastic, or plastic films | |
| Plastic waste processing The process by which plastic waste is handled for the purpose of reuse, recycling, co-processing, or transformation into new products | |
| Single-use plastic commodity a plastic item intended to be used once for the same purpose before being disposed of or recycled | |
| Thermoset Plastic A plastic that becomes irreversibly rigid when heated and hence cannot be remoulded into the desired shape | |
| Thermoplastic A plastic that softens on heating and can be moulded into desired shape | |
| Rule 4: Conditions | |
| 75 microns in thickness with effect from the 30th September 2021, and 120 microns in thickness with effect from the 31st December 2022 | Carry bag made of virgin or recycled plastic, shall not be less than 50 microns in thickness |
| Carry Bags and Commodities made from compostable plastic must conform with Indian Standard: IS 17088:2008 titled as Specifications for Compostable Plastics, | Earlier it was just for ‘Carry Bags’ |
| Non-woven plastic carry bag shall not be less than 60 Gram Per Square Meter (GSM) with effect from the 30th September 2021 | No defined standards for the non-woven carry bags are defined |
| Ban on single-use plastic commodities postponed to 1st July 2022 | Ban on single-use plastic was initially from 1st January 2022 |
| Rule 5: Plastic waste management | |
| Recycling or processing facilities of plastic waste shall be disposed of in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 | Earlier it was in accordance with Solid Waste Management Rules 2000 |
| Rule 6: Responsibility of local body | |
| New clause: ensuring that the provisions of these rules, as amended, are adhered to | – |
| Rule 7: Responsibility of Gram Panchayat | |
| New clause: ensuring that the provisions of these rules, as amended, are adhered to | – |
| Rule 9: Responsibility of Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners | |
| …as per guidelines issued under these rules from time to time | |
| Rule 11: Marking & Labeling | |
| Marking and Labelling required for ‘Plastic Carry Bag and Plastic Packaging‘ | Plastic Carry Bag |
| Name and registration number of the manufacturer, producer, or brand owner and the thickness is to be printed in case of carry bags and plastic packaging used by the brand owner | Name, registration number of the manufacturer and thickness in case of carry bag; |
| Addition of “…excluding multi-layered packaging used for imported goods” | Name and registration number of the manufacturer in case of multi-layered packaging |
| name and certificate number of Producers [Rule 4(h)] in case of carry bags made from compostable plastic | |
| Rule 12: Prescribed authority | |
| The concerned Secretary-in-charge of Urban Development of the State or a Union Territory has the authority to impose… restriction or prohibition on, use of plastic carry bags, plastic sheets or like, covers made of plastic sheets and multi-layered packaging. | No direct mention of the actions they can take |
| The concerned Gram Panchayat shall be the authority for enforcement of the provisions of these rules relating to waste management by the waste generator, restriction or prohibition on the use of plastic carry bags, plastic sheets or like, covers made of plastic sheets and multi-layered packaging in the rural area of the State or a Union Territory | No direct mention of the actions they can take |
| Rule 13: Registration of producer, recyclers, and manufacturer | |
| Registration can now be obtained from the Central Pollution Control Board as well | Registration of Manufacturers to be obtained from SPSB, PCC of the concerned Union Territory |
For a detailed list of the recent amendments, click here to download
It should be noted that the MOEFCC released a detailed list of amendments to the PWM Rules, 2016 in March 2021. For a summary of the amendments head over to An Overview on the Plastic Waste Management Rules (Amendment)March 2021.
With this amendment, the ministry has laid out new provisions and provided further clarity on the applicability of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 to your brand or products. For your support, our team of experts is available for a FREE 15-minute consultation to assist you in gaining a better understanding of these changes.
