India has seen an increase in plastic waste management units, with 978 operational as of 5 December 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s state minister Kirti Vardhan Singh revealed during a Rajya Sabha session.
Singh provided these figures in response to a parliamentary question, also noting that registered plastic waste processors have reportedly recycled 15.3 million tons of plastic packaging waste since 2022.
The country generated over 4.13 million tons of plastic waste in fiscal year 2022-23 (FY22-23), marking the highest volume in five years, up from around 3.36 million tons in 2018-19. These figures were compiled from data provided by the country’s State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees.
Singh highlighted the ministry’s commitment to enhancing plastic waste handling through the Plastic Waste Management Rules, including the notification of extended producer responsibility (EPR) guidelines to hold producers, importers, and brand owners accountable for their waste.
For FY23-24, EPR targets were set at 6.15 million tons, with companies reporting 4.64 million tons recycled. Meanwhile, FY22-23 saw 2.49 million tons processed out of 2.72 million tons.
Additionally, the government initiated the National Plastic Pollution Reduction Campaign to reduce plastic usage across various regions, including ecologically sensitive areas such as Tiger Reserves, until 31 October.
Enforcement actions against banned single-use plastic items have also been rigorous, according to the ministry, with 861,740 inspections conducted and 1,985 tons of illegal plastic seized, resulting in fines amounting to Rs198.2m ($2.2m).
The ban, effective from July 2022, targets items with low utility and high littering potential, encouraging businesses to seek alternatives.
The release of a compendium listing manufacturers of eco-friendly substitutes on 5 June 2025, and the Central Pollution Control Board’s launch of an updated online reporting system for plastic waste, demonstrate further steps towards better management.
