Mihir Banerji
NEW DELHI:ON World Environment Day 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined a global vision for a greener planet and set the stage for reducing the adverse impact of plastic waste. Since then, India has taken on the mantle of delivering on the Prime Minister’s vision, generating interest and admiration from the rest of the world.
Aligned with the PM’s vision, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has introduced a series of rules, guidelines, and timelines to address plastic waste management in a time-bound manner. These efforts are directed toward improving plastic waste management practices and ensuring the beginning of a plastic circular economy – focused on a greener planet. Recycling plastic waste is a critical component of this strategy.
It is worth noting that currently, only about 10 per cent of plastic is recycled globally. Environmentalists and scientists universally agree that significantly increasing the use of recycled plastic can greatly mitigate its accompanying adverse environmental impact.
Environmental sense
Globally, recycled plastic is widely used in packaging for food and nonfood containers, beverage bottles, personal care products, films, and household goods. Beyond this, it finds applications in building and construction, textiles, automotive, electrical and electronics, and many other industries. The use of recycled plastic also makes strong environmental and economic sense.
No wonder, there has been a lot of emphasis on increasing the use of recycled plastic and enhancing capacity. A key step in this direction is the Government’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines, dated July 6, 2022. These guidelines, related to plastic waste management, include provisions for the use of recycled content in various forms of packaging, divided into four categories with specific year-wise targets. More than just a regulatory framework, EPR serves as a roadmap for a circular economy for plastics, emphasizing waste reduction, reuse, and improved recycling.
The plastic recycling industry has shown complete solidarity with the Government’s vision, responding proactively to meet EPR guidelines. The industry has already invested Rs 10,000 crore to establish state-of-theart recycling units, enhancing the capacity to produce recycled plastic and reduce the nation’s plastic footprint. With the rising demand for recycled content and specific year-wise targets under EPR, the investment in recycling is expected to grow at a double-digit rate, especially as the EPR guidelines come into effect from April 1 this year.
Recycling plants generate direct employment, offering stable jobs in skilled and semi-skilled roles. Informal waste pickers and aggregators benefit from structured supply chains, ensuring better wages, safer working conditions, and upskilling opportunities. A heartening fact is that due to the proactiveness of the industry, the country today has sufficient and even excess capacity for recycled plastic production, which reflects the commitment of the plastic-producing industry.
A new dawn
India’s current and projected capacity for recycled polyethylene terephthalate, particularly food-grade, demonstrates this preparedness. As per the industry estimates, the operational food-grade certified capacity currently stands at 124 KT, with 168 KT under FSSAI approval, 423 KT expected to be commissioned between June and October 2025, and an additional 120 KT projected for CY 2026. This aligns with the EPR mandate, which reflects the demand for recycled plastic based on current consumption patterns.
As a new era of a circular plastic economy begins on April 1, the industry is fully prepared to meet its obligations. With the world watching India, we must move ahead with the rollout. Any delay will send an adverse signal on our ability to meet our environmental commitments and also pose a financial loss for the recycling industry, which has stood in total solidarity with the Government’s vision and made huge investments in building an adequate infrastructure.
