Plastic Recycling Targets

Unmanaged and littered plastic waste including plastic packaging waste has adverse impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, in the Gazette of India on 16th February 2022.

As per guidelines, plastic packaging has been covered under the following categories:

i. Category- I: Rigid plastic packaging

ii. Category-II: Flexible plastic packaging of single layer or multilayer (more than one layer with different types of plastic), plastic sheets or like and covers made of plastic sheet, carry bags, plastic sachet or pouches

iii. Category-III: Multi-layered plastic packaging (at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material other than plastic);

iv. Category IV: Plastic sheet or like used for packaging as well as carry bags made of compostable plastics

The targets for minimum level of recycling (excluding end of life disposal) as per Guidelines, are given below:

Minimum level of recycling (excluding end of life disposal) of plastic packaging waste (% of Extended Producer Responsibility Target)
Plastic Packaging Category	2024-25	2025-26	2026-27	2027-28 onwards
Category I	50	60	70	80
Category II	30	40	50	60
Category III	30	40	50	60
Category IV	50	60	70	80

Environmental Compensation shall be levied based upon polluter pays principle, with respect to non-fulfilment of Extended Producer Responsibility targets by Producers, Importers & Brand Owners, for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing, controlling and abating environment pollution.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 19 December 2022.