It is estimated that approximately 10 thousand tons per day (TPD) of plastics waste is

generated i.e. 9% of 1.20 lacs TPD of MSW in the country. The plastics waste constitutes
two major categories of plastics; (i) Thermoplastics and (ii) Thermoset plastics.
Thermoplastics, constitutes 80% and thermoset constitutes approximately 20% of total
post-consumer plastics waste generated in India.

Each year, about 5.6 million tons* of plastic waste is generated in India (*2015 GOI records),
and that quantity is growing rapidly. Besides that, increasing amounts of plastic scrap are
received from developed countries, looking for a cheap way to dispose of their plastic
wastes. In India, 100% of Industrial Plastic Waste and about 60% of this plastic waste
from Municipal Solid Waste is recycled, which is much higher than Europe and United
States of America. Most of the plastic recycling takes place in the so-called informal
sector, providing livelihood to many.

Because it avoids fossil fuel usage, carbon dioxide emissions and landfilling, plastic
recycling is by and large a sustainable activity. Plastic recycling is a major economic
activity in Delhi, directly employing an estimated 20,000 - 25,000 people and providing
livelihood for their families and communities. Delhiites recyclers do not only process
plastic waste generated in the city itself, but also (and mainly) plastic scrap coming from
other parts of India as well as from other countries. It is estimated that more than 7,000
plastic recycling units exist in Delhi itself. Tamilnadu & Pondicherry add to around 1,200
plastic recyclers. Hence an estimate of around 22,000 recyclers all over India.
Maharashtra estimates of around 6,000 plastic recyclers. Over and above most
companies producing Plastic Products have their own recycling facility to reclaim their own
waste. An estimate of 2 Lakh Employees are involved in this sector of Plastic itself.

There are various hotspots of waste recycling in India like Delhi, Kolkata-West Bengal,
Malegaon, Jalgaon, Dhavari, Vasai and Malad in Mumbai-Maharashtra, Dhoraji-Gujarat,
etc. Percentage of Plastic in Municipal Solid Waste depends on Location i.e. Metro Cities
have 5% ~ 9%, whereas Smaller Cities have between 1% ~ 2% Plastics in Solid Waste.
An Average of 0.5% ~ 1% will be considered dumped in landfills. The environmental
hazards due to mismanagement of plastics waste include the following aspects:
 Littered plastics spoils beauty of the city and choke drains and make important
public places & beaches filthy;
 Garbage containing plastics, when burnt may cause air pollution by emitting
polluting gases;
 Garbage mixed with plastics interferes in waste processing facilities and may also
cause problems in landfill operations;
 Incomplete infrastructure for disposal of waste water and its purification, leads to
lower recycling of Road Waste.
 100% of industrial Plastic waste is recycled in India.

Imports of Plastic Waste in India is currently restricted and if the Government of India
wishes to implement 100% Plastic Waste Management under Swachh Bharat Yojana then
they must do following to support the industry:
 Maintain the restriction of imports of Plastic Waste and in fact ban the same in
totality.
 Reduce GST to 0% on Plastic Waste. GST is already charged on the Virgin
Polymer at 18%, Hence, under DOUBLE TAXATION POLICY Government should
 desist from charging GST on Plastic Scrap and Granules or products made from
such Scrap for non-Toxic applications.
 Provide good infrastructure for the industry to promote higher percentage of
Municipal Solid Waste Recycling like Drain Water Purification Plant. Ample Water
Supply, Ample Power, Ample Land in concentrated Pockets for better recycling.
 Provide Free Land to Waste Collectors and sorters.
 There is requirement to have a latest understanding of the plastic waste
management in India. It is our suggestion that CPCB may lead such a study with
participation from AIPMA This would help in the formulation of meaningful
guidelines on this important issue.
 Under Swacch Bharat Yojana Government should build a framework so that all
kinds of waste can be monetised. This will change the mind set of people. This
would ensure more empathy alertness towards the waste and therefore consumer
will handle it more responsibly e.g. newspaper and PET bottles are always kept
aside in every household to be sold to Kabadiwala’s.
 A PET bottle with an 85% recycling has low cost of collection while a sachet pouch
has high cost of collection. Nodal agencies (such as CIPET, IIP, etc.) appointed by
Government should define the collection-cost. Once it is mandated for producers to
bear the cost for collection, they will redesign their packaging to make it more
recycling friendly; this will enhance the collection and recycling of waste.
 A formal market place needs to be established where waste can be traded.
Companies who need to buy waste for recycling under EPR should be able to
source from such markets. Consumers, rag pickers and Kabadiwala’s should be
able to sell to these markets.
 Plastic Film made in India or imported should be controlled with the regulations set
by MOEF&CC under PWM’2016 at 50-micron thickness and not below.
 Mass awareness programme on plastic image, waste management including
recycling need to have the involvement of DCPC
 Mass awareness to the public in general, against the littering of wastes should be
taken up strongly.

You are kindly requested to consider the above.

For AIPMA

Akhilesh Bhargava Haren Sanghavi

Chairman Environment Chairman Co-ordination All Association