Lok Sabha Question No. 491 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Reusable, Recyclable or Compostable Packaging
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: S.R. Parthiban

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 491

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## Reusable, Recyclable or Compostable Packaging

## 491. SHRI PARTHIBAN S.R.:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has given companies a target to use only reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging;
- (b) if so, the time limit fixed in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has invested in recycling infrastructure for plastics and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the impact of banning single use plastic on industries that are manufacturing single use plastic products;
- (e) whether the Ministry  has sent any proposal to the Minister of  Finance  or the GST Council to reduce GST on raw materials used for manufacturing alternatives to single use plastic products; and
- (f) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  whether  the  Ministry  will  send  such  a  proposal now?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to  (c):  The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  notified  the Guidelines  on  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  for  plastic  packaging  on  16th  February 2022. The Guidelines stipulates mandatory targets on producers, importers and brand owners for reuse of rigid plastic packaging, minimum level of recycling of plastic packaging waste and minimum use of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging. The year-wise target for minimum level of recycling of plastic waste across different categories of plastic packaging including compostable packaging is given below:

| Year            | Target (% of Extended Producer Responsibility)   |
|-----------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 2024-25         | 30-50                                            |
| 2025-26         | 40-60                                            |
| 2026-27         | 50-70                                            |
| 2027-28 onwards | 60-80                                            |

The EPR target for plastic packaging made from compostable plastic is 100 % from 2023-24.

The target for reuse of rigid plastic packaging by Brand Owners is given in table below. The reuse of rigid plastic packaging in food contact applications is subject to regulation of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

|                                                                                                                              | Target (as percentage of rigid plastic packaging in products sold annually)   | Target (as percentage of rigid plastic packaging in products sold annually)   | Target (as percentage of rigid plastic packaging in products sold annually)   | Target (as percentage of rigid plastic packaging in products sold annually)   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                              | 2025-26                                                                       | 2026-27                                                                       | 2027-28                                                                       | 2028-29 and onwards                                                           |
| Rigid plastic packaging with volume or weight equal more than 0.9 lt. or kg. but less than 4.9 lt. or kg. as the case may be | 10                                                                            | 15                                                                            | 20                                                                            | 25                                                                            |
| Rigid plastic packaging with volume or weight equal more than 0.9 lt. or kg.but less than 4.9 lt. or kg. as the case may be  | 70                                                                            | 75                                                                            | 80                                                                            | 85                                                                            |

The objective of enforceable obligations of minimum level of recycling of plastic packaging waste  under  Guidelines  on  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  is  to  strengthen  circular economy of plastic packaging waste and development of recycling infrastructure for plastic packaging  waste.  Schemes  of  Ministry  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  and Department  of  Chemicals  and  Petrochemicals,  Government  of  India,  are  available  for technical  and  financial  assistance  for  development  of  recycling  infrastructure  for  plastic waste, as per scheme guidelines.

(d) to (f): The prohibition on identified single use plastic items was notified on 12 th August 2021  and  it  came  into  effect  from  1 st July  2022.  Transition  time  was  provided  to  units manufacturing banned single use plastic to shift to alternatives. The Ministry of Micro, Small and  Medium  Enterprises  has  schemes  to  provide  support  to  MSME  units,  which  include support to such units earlier involved in manufacturing of banned single use plastic items for switching over to alternatives / other products. These schemes provide support in respect of technology  upgradation,  creating  awareness,  marketing  support,  infrastructural  support,  as per scheme guidelines. The manufacturing of alternatives will create new job opportunities and business models. GST Council secretariat has been suggested to adjust the GST rates in order to increase adoption of alternatives to banned single use items.

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