Lok Sabha Question No. 5020 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Generation of Plastic Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5020

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Generation of Plastic Waste

## 5020.   SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

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

- (a) whether a large amount of plastic waste is being generated in the metropolitan cities of the country, including Delhi despite the ban on plastic;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to check the use of plastic along with the number of companies and the individuals against which punitive action has been taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) & (b): Based  upon  the  information  provided  by  State  Pollution  Control  Boards (SPCBs)  /  Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCCs)  to  CPCB,  the  quantity  of  plastic  waste generation is given below:

| Financial Year   | Plastic waste Generation (TPA)   |
|------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2020-21          | 41,26,808                        |
| 2021-22          | 39,01,802                        |
| 2022-23          | 41,36,188                        |

As per Annual Report on Implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, for the year 2020-21  and  2021-22,  the  estimated  plastic  waste  generation  in  Delhi  is  approximately 3,45,000 TPA and 3,77,596 TPA, respectively.

- (c) The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  already  prohibited identified  single  use  plastic  items,  which  have  low  utility  and  high  littering  potential,  with effect from 1 July 2022.  States and Union Territories have been asked to undertake regular enforcement drives to implement ban on identified single use plastic items and on plastic carry bags  having  thickness  less  than  one  hundred  twenty  microns  covering  fruit  and  vegetable markets, wholesale markets, local markets, flower vendors, units manufacturing plastic carry bags etc. Actions have been taken by concerned authorities on the deviations, which include seizure  of  banned  single  use  plastic  items  and  levy  of  penalty.  As  per  details  provided  by

SPCB/PCC and details available  at  SUP compliance monitoring portal, a total  of 8,61,908 inspections have been conducted and 1989 tonnes of banned single use plastic items have been seized and a total of Rs. 19.83 crores of fine has been levied, since July, 2022.

Further,  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  also  notified  the Guidelines  on  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  (EPR)  for  plastic  packaging  vide  Plastic Waste  Management  (Amendment)  Rules,  2022,  on  16th  February,  2022.  The  Guidelines stipulate mandatory targets on EPR, recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packaging  and  use  of  recycled  plastic  content.  As  per  the  Centralized  Online  Extended Producer Responsibility Portal on Plastic Packaging, there are 60,128 of registered Producers, Importers  and  Brand  Owners  and  3012  registered  Plastic  Waste  Processors  on  the  portal. Around  207  lakh  tonnes  of  plastic  packaging  waste  have  been  recycled,  after  the  EPR Guidelines have come into force in 2022. In order to ensure compliance with EPR obligations, Central Pollution Control Board has issued Show Cause Notices on 25.11.2024, 30.12.2024 and 11.03.2026 to registered Producers, Importers and Brand Owners under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, for non-fulfilment of EPR targets and non-submission of Annual Returns for FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, celebrated World Environment Day 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 5 th  June 2025, with the slogan 'One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution'. As part of one month long pre-campaign activities undertaken before World Environment Day 2025, around 69,000 events were organized in which around 21 lakh people participated across the country. Based upon the information provided by State Pollution  Control  Boards  and  Pollution  Control  Committees,  the  Ministry  of  Environment, Forests and Climate Change  and  Central Pollution Control Board have prepared a 'Compendium of Manufacturers / Sellers of Eco-alternatives to Banned Single Use Plastic Items', which was launched on World Environment Day, 2025. The compendium provides details of nearly 1000 units spread across the country. The Compendium is available on the website of CPCB for wider dissemination and use. In keeping with the development of ecoalternatives, Bureau of Indian Standard had earlier notified Indian Standard IS 18267 for Food Serving Utensil Made from Agri By-Products.

Keeping in view the focus of the Government on addressing plastic pollution, a National Expo on eco-alternatives to banned single-use plastic was also organized during WED 2025. The expo saw a vibrant participation by 150 startups, recyclers, and local bodies from across India showcasing innovative technologies and best practices on Eco-alternatives to single use plastics and plastic waste management.

The National Plastic Pollution Reduction Campaign (NPPRC) was also launched for the period 5th June to 31st October 2025. The Campaign included activities to reduce plastic pollution in urban and rural areas under Swachhta Hi Sewa programme. The activities also included focus on reducing use of avoidable single use plastics in government offices especially during Special Campaign 5.0. A Hackathon on eco-alternatives to single-use plastics was also organized by Central Pollution Control Board, as part of NPPRC.