Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2025

Act Name/Rule Name: Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 

Type of Document: Notification 

State: Central Government 

Date: January 23, 2025 

Circular No./Notification No.: G.S.R. 73(E) 

The amendment is made under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to improve plastic waste management and ensure better compliance. The change primarily focuses on increasing traceability of plastic packaging through the introduction of barcodes, QR codes, and unique numbers. 

Key Points: 

1. Applicability: The rules will be effective from January 23, 2025.

2. Insertion of Barcode/QR Code Requirement (Rule 11, Sub-Rule 1A) 

From July 1, 2025, producers, importers, or brand owners must provide certain information on plastic packaging in one of these forms: 

    • Barcode or Quick Response (QR) code on the packaging. 
    • Information in a product brochure. 
    • A unique number on the packaging, issued by relevant authorities. 
  1.  
  1.  

Information such as: 

Each plastic carry bag and multi-layered packaging shall have the following information printed in English namely –  

    • Name, registration number of the manufacturer and thickness in case of carry bag;  
    • Name and registration number of the manufacturer in case of multi-layered packaging; and
    • Name and certificate number [Rule 4(h)]* in case of carry bags made from compostable plastic. 

 

3. Communication to Central Pollution Control Board: These producers or brand owners must inform the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) about how they are fulfilling the requirements. 

  1. CPCB’s Responsibility: The CPCB will maintain and publish a list of those who are compliant and update it quarterly. 
  2. Insertion of Penalties for Non-Compliance (Rule 19) : Failure to comply with the rules will result in penalties as per Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 

Notes:

Penalty under EPA 1986 – Section 15 of EPA 1986 –  

(1) Where any person contravenes or does not comply with any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made or orders or directions issued thereunder for which no penalty is provided, he shall be liable to penalty in respect of each such contravention which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to fifteen lakh rupees

(2) Where any person continues contravention under sub-section (1), he shall be liable to additional penalty often thousand rupees for every day during which such contravention continues. 

15A of EPA 1986- Penalty for contravention by companies —  

(1) Where any company contravenes any of the provisions of this Act, the company shall be liable to penalty for each such contravention which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to fifteen lakh rupees

(2) Where any company continues contravention under sub-section (1), the company shall be liable to additional penalty of one lakh rupees for every day during which such contravention continues. 

* Rule 4(h): The provision of thickness shall not be applicable to carry bags made up of compostable plastic. Carry bags made from compostable plastics shall conform to the Indian Standard: IS 17088:2008 titled as Specifications for Compostable Plastics, as amended from time to time. The manufacturers or seller of compostable plastic carry bags shall obtain a certificate from the Central Pollution Control Board before marketing or selling

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