Plastic Waste Management Rules Revised Analysis Of Significant Changes

Background

The introduction of the erstwhile Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 ('PWMH Rules, 2011') marks the first attempt of the government to address the plastic pollution crisis resulting from the unbridled use of plastic packaging in the Indian consumer market. The PWMH Rules, 2011 were aimed at improving the municipal plastic waste management systems requiring municipal authorities to cooperate with local waste pickers for effective collection of plastic waste. Further, the PWMH Rules, 2011 imposed a ban on the use of plastic sachets for storing, packing, or selling tobacco and pan masala besides providing for Extended Producer's Responsibility ('EPR') mechanism applicable to manufacturers to the extent of setting up plastic waste collection centres either individually or in collaboration with municipal authorities. However, the lack of detailed provisions for implementation of the limited EPR framework resulted in inefficacy of the PWMH