India Processes 15.3 Million Tons of Plastic Packaging Waste Since 2022, Says Govt

India had 978 operational Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMUs) as of December 5, 2024, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The update came during a Rajya Sabha session on August 7, 2025.

Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh shared these figures in response to a parliamentary question. He also said that registered plastic waste processors have recycled 15.3 million tons of plastic packaging waste since 2022.

The country generated over 4.13 million tons of plastic waste in 2022-23, the highest in five years. In 2018-19, the figure was around 3.36 million tons. The data was collected from State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees.

Singh said that the ministry had taken several steps under the Plastic Waste Management Rules to improve plastic waste handling. “We have notified Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines to make producers, importers, and brand owners accountable,” he said.

EPR targets for 2023-24 were set at 6.15 million tons. Companies reported recycling 4.64 million tons. In 2022-23, 2.49 million tons out of 2.72 million tons were processed.

The government launched a national campaign on June 5, 2025, called the National Plastic Pollution Reduction Campaign. It runs until October 31 and focuses on cutting plastic use in urban, rural, and ecologically sensitive areas like Tiger Reserves.

The campaign also includes events to promote alternatives to plastic. Over 69,000 events were held as part of World Environment Day 2025 activities. About 2.1 million people participated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the day by planting a banyan sapling at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. The event was part of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative under the Aravalli Green Wall project. Modi also flagged off 200 electric buses in Delhi, highlighting a shift to cleaner transport.

The ministry also reported enforcement actions against banned single-use plastic items. Officials carried out 861,740 inspections and seized nearly 2,000 tons of illegal plastic. Fines totaled Rs. 19.82 crore.

The ban on single-use plastics began on July 1, 2022. It covers items with low utility and high littering potential. Officials say the move has pushed businesses to find substitutes.

A compendium of nearly 1,000 manufacturers of eco-alternatives was released on June 5, 2025. It lists producers of items like biodegradable utensils made from agricultural by-products.

The Central Pollution Control Board launched an updated online reporting system for plastic waste on the same day. Under new rules, every urban local body and district-level panchayat must now file annual reports digitally by June 30 each year.

The ministry said the digital shift aims to simplify monitoring and reduce delays.

While the government tracks plastic use and recycling through its centralized EPR portal, the impact on mountain ecosystems remains unclear. In Parliament, Singh did not provide data on this but said the Plastic Waste Management Rules also apply to such areas.

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