Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Centre has notified amendments to Plastic Waste Management Rules, making it mandatory for producers, importers and brand owners to use recycled plastic in packaging and carry a label and marking indicating the use of recycled content.The new rules, notified by the environment ministry on Tuesday, have provisions for stricter compliance, making the system of recycling and waste management more robust and comprehensive.They also set category-wise targets, which will go up progressively from 2025–26 to 2028–29 and thereafter, for use of recycled plastic in packaging as per standards prescribed by govt.Producers and importers will also have to comply with the “applicable marking and labelling requirements” specified by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for food items.However, the targets for mandatory use of recycled plastic in packaging will not be applicable to cases where such use is not permitted under various laws or regulations notified by central govt or statutory bodies such as FSSAI, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation and Central Insecticide Board.Under the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2026, Central Pollution Control Board will develop a mechanism for reporting use of recycled content on the centralised online portal.The state govt and UT administration concerned will constitute a state/UT-level monitoring committee for effective monitoring and implementation of the amended rules.The local body in urban and rural areas will be the ground-level authority for enforcement of the rules, which come into force with immediate effect.
