GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2774
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2024
Plastic waste in the country
2774: MS. SUSHMITA DEV:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government has conducted any study/survey on the total plastic waste generated in the country, year-wise details for the last five years;
(b) whether it is a fact that many recycling companies have recently been found to generate and sell fake Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates without actually recycling the plastic waste, as noted by the National Green Tribunal, if so, the details of such instances in the last five years; and
(c) whether Government has collected any data on the amount of plastic waste burned every year across the country instead of getting recycled, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (c): Based upon the information provided by State Pollution Control Boards
(SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) to Central Pollution Control Board, the plastic
waste generated in the country for the period 2018-19 to 2022-23, is given below:

Financial Year Plastic waste Generation (TPA)
2018-19 3360043.45
2019-20 3469781.73
2020-21 4126808.44
2021-22 3901802.06
2022-23 4136188.83

The Central Pollution Control Board had conducted random audit of registered plastic waste processors, as per Guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility on plastic packaging. Irregularities were observed during the random audit of plastic waste processors. Accordingly, CPCB had issued directions dated 26.10.2023 to concerned SPCBs to levy Environmental
compensation (EC) corresponding to the quantum of EPR certificates generated which are not in conformity with the stipulated requirements and also to take necessary actions as per applicable law against the violating Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs). Directions were also issued to all SPCBs / PCCs on 20.11.2023 to re-check processing facilities of registered plastic waste processors in their state and regularly monitor EPR certificate generation process of the registered PWPs in order that EPR certificates generated are in accordance with statutory requirements and guidelines.The Plastic Waste Management Rules mandate local bodies and gram panchayats to ensure that open burning of plastic waste does not take place. The implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on plastic packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rules has led to processing including recycling of around 103 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging waste as per information available on the Centralized EPR portal on plastic packaging.