Biodegradable plastics - Legal Update

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate releases the Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022. There are new definitions added i.e. Biodegradable plastics, End of Life disposal, Importer, Plastic Packaging, Plastic Waste Processors, Post-consumer plastic packaging waste, Pre-consumer plastic packaging waste. As per the revised amendment, (1) No person shall manufacture carry bags or recycle plastic bags or multilayered packaging unless the person has obtained registration from the State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee of the Union territory & Central Pollution Control Board. (2) Determination of the degree of degradability and degree of disintegration of plastic material shall be as per the protocols of the Indian Standards listed in Schedule I. (3) The compostable plastic materials shall conform to the IS / ISO 17088:2021, as amended from time to time. (4) The biodegradable plastics shall conform to the standard notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards and certified by the Central Pollution Control Board. (5) Biodegradable plastics shall conform to tentative Indian Standard IS 17899 T:2022 as notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards. (6) The Producers, Importers and Brand Owners shall fulfill Extended Producers Responsibility for Plastic Packaging as per guidelines specified in Schedule -II. Date of Release – 06.07.2022

Applicable – Plastic Manufacturers, Plastic Products Producers, Plastic Product Users, Plastic Recycling Agency, Plastic Waste Handling Units

Download – Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2021 (06.07.2022)