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Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2021 (August)

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2021 (August)
Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2021
| 3 Min read

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 2022Carry 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 2021No defined standards for the non-woven carry bags are defined
Ban on single-use plastic commodities postponed to 1st July 2022Ban 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, 2016Earlier 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 PackagingPlastic 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 ownerName, registration number of the manufacturer and thickness in case of carry bag;
Addition of “…excluding multi-layered packaging used for imported goodsName 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 TerritoryNo 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 wellRegistration 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.

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