PLASTIC WASTE

As per the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), India generates 15 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. This plastic takes more than 700 years to degrade. Unfortunately, only one-fourth of plastic waste is recycled due to the lack of a functioning solid waste management system. This leads to a burden on the landfills and poor socio-economic conditions of the waste pickers, who happen to be mostly women.    

To address the issue of scientific plastic waste management, the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 were notified. Recently, the government has notified the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and amendments to it in 2018 and 2021.