The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 regulate handling, recycling and disposal of plastic waste and apply to producers, importers, brand owners and local authorities. A draft amendment was earlier issued on June 3, 2025, inviting objections and suggestions within sixty days, which were made available to the public on the same date. The Central Government has considered the objections and suggestions received within the prescribed period. This amendment further modifies definitions, compliance obligations and recycling targets under the existing framework.

          Amendment to Rule 3 (Definitions):

• Clause (ga) substituted to define “end of life disposal” as:
  “means the utilisation of plastic waste for the purpose of energy recovery including co-processing in industries such as cement, steel, and any other similar industry, waste-to-energy processes, waste-to-oil conversion, and use in road construction in accordance with applicable guidelines;
  Provided that, it shall not include processes wherein plastic waste is converted into feedstock chemicals, or for the production of new plastic, which shall be considered as recycling;”
  
  Amendment to Rule 11:
  Sub-rule (2) substituted to require that:
• “Each recycled plastic packaging or commodity shall conform to the Indian Standard: IS 14534: 2023 titled ‘Plastics—Recovery and Recycling of Plastics Waste—Guidelines’, and shall bear the label and marking… and shall also comply with the applicable marking and labelling requirements specified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India…”
  
  Amendment to Rule 12:
  New sub-rules (3A), (3B), (3C) inserted specifying enforcement authority:

• Urban local bodies/local authorities to enforce provisions within jurisdiction
• Gram Panchayats and District Panchayats empowered for enforcement in their respective areas
• Overlapping jurisdiction clarified between authorities
  
  Amendment to Rule 16:

• Sub-rule (1) substituted to mandate constitution of a State Level Monitoring Committee with specified composition including Chief Secretary, departmental secretaries, pollution control boards, municipal representatives and experts.
• Sub-rule (2) amended to allow invitation of experts and other government officers including district-level officers.
  
  Amendment to Rule 17:

• In sub-rule (5), words “or registered environment auditor” inserted after “through designated agency”.
  
  Amendment to Schedule II – Recycled Plastic Usage Obligations:

        (a) For Producers:
        Mandatory minimum use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging:

• Category I: 30% (2025-26), 40% (2026-27), 50% (2027-28), 60% (2028-29 onwards)
• Category II: 10%, 10%, 20%, 20%
• Category III: 5%, 5%, 10%, 10%

           Provision for carry forward of shortfall for three years subject to minimum one-third fulfilment annually.

      (b) For Importers:
        Same category-wise mandatory recycled plastic usage percentages as applicable to producers.Provision for purchase of certificates to meet obligations          and carry forward of shortfall.

      (c) For Brand Owners:

• Mandatory recycled plastic usage obligations same as above percentages.
• Mandatory reporting on centralized portal regarding plastic usage and recycled content.
  
  Reuse Obligation for Rigid Plastic Packaging (Category I):

          Minimum reuse targets prescribed:

• 0.9–4.9 litre/kg packaging: 10% (2025-26) to 25% (2028-29 onwards)
• ≥4.9 litre/kg (beverages): 70% to 85%
• ≥4.9 litre/kg (other products): 10% to 15%

           Carry forward of shortfall permitted up to three years with minimum annual compliance requirement.
     
          Additional Amendments: Requirement to submit annual returns on centralized portal for recycled content and reuse.Inclusion of registered environment            auditors in compliance verification under Schedule II.