Full Text
REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-05062025-263615
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 322]
NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2025/JYAISTHA 14, 1947
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 3rd June, 2025
G.S.R. 365(E). — The following draft notification which the Central Government proposes to issue, in
exercise of the powers conferred by sections 3, 6, and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), for
making certain amendments in the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, issued vide G.S.R. 320 (E), dated the 18th
March, 2016, is hereby published as required under sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986,
for information of the public likely to be affected thereby and notice is hereby given that the said notification will be
taken into consideration by the Central Government on or after the expiry of sixty days from the date on which copies
of this notification as published in the Gazette of India are made available to the public;
Any person interested in making any objection or suggestion on the proposals contained in the draft
notification may do so in writing within the period so specified through post to the Secretary, Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, Aliganj, New Delhi-110003 or
electronically at email address: sohsmd-mef@gov.in
Draft Notification
Whereas, the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the "said rules") were
notified by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change vide G.S.R. 320 (E), dated the 18th March, 2016 to
provide statutory framework for plastic waste management in the country in an environmentally sound manner;
Whereas, in order to further strengthen the effective implementation of guidelines on Extended Producer
Responsibility on Plastic packaging, amendments are being proposed to remove certain difficulties;
Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by sections 3, 6 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government hereby publishes this draft notification as required under sub-rule 3 of rule
5 of the said Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, which shall on and from the date of its final publication make the
following amendments in the said notification, namely:-
1. (1) These rules may be called Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2025.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, in Schedule-II, in paragraph 7, -
(a) in sub-paragraph 7.2, for clause (d), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-
(d) Obligation for use of recycled plastic content (refer example 6 in Annexure)
(i) The producer shall ensure use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging category-wise as given below, namely:-
Mandatory use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging
(% of plastic manufactured for the year)
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Plastic packaging category| 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 and onwards|
+=========================+=========+=========+=========+====================+
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Category I | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Category II | 10 | 10 | 20 | 20 |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Category III | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
In cases, where it is not possible to meet the obligation in respect of recycled plastic content on account of statutory or
technical requirements, the exemption may be granted by Central Pollution Control Board on case-to-case basis.
Note: 1. statutory requirement would mean the case where use of recycled content is not allowed by any other
law in force.
2. Technical requirement would mean the case where use of recycled content renders the packaged material unfit
for intended use.
(ii) Use of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging used in food contact applications -
The producer may be allowed to carry forward any shortfall in fulfilment of mandatory use of recycled plastic in
plastic packaging for the year 2025-26, for a period of three years starting from 2026-27, over and above the target
mandated for those years.";
(b) in sub-paragraph 7.3, for clause (d), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-
"(d) Obligation for use of recycled plastic content (Refer example 6 in Annexure)
(i) The Importer shall ensure use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging category-wise as given below:
Mandatory use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging
(% of imported plastic for the year)
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Plastic packaging category| 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 and onwards|
+=========================+=========+=========+=========+====================+
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Category I | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Category II | 10 | 10 | 20 | 20 |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Category III | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
Any recycled plastic used in imported material shall not be counted towards fulfilment of obligation. The importer
will have to fulfil its obligation of use of recycled content (in quantitative terms) through purchase of certificate of
equivalent quantity from such Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners who have used recycled content in excess of
their obligation. Central Pollution Control Board will develop mechanism for such exchange on the centralized online
portal. In cases, where it is not possible to meet the obligation in respect of recycled plastic content on account of
statutory or technical requirements, the exemption may be granted by Central Pollution Control Board on case-to-case
basis.
Note: 1. statutory requirement would mean the case where use of recycled content is not allowed by any other
law in force.
2. Technical requirement would mean the case where use of recycled content renders the packaged material
unfit for intended use.
(ii) Use of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging used in food contact applications -
The importer may be allowed to carry forward any shortfall remaining in the fulfilment of mandatory use of
recycled plastic in plastic packaging, for the year 2025-26, after undertaking best efforts, for a period of
three years starting from 2026-27, over and above the target mandated for those years.";
(c) in sub-paragraph 7.4,- (i) in clause (b) for sub-clause (I), the following sub-clause shall be substituted, namely:-
"(I) The Brand Owners using Category I (rigid) plastic packaging for their products shall have minimum
obligation to reuse such packaging as given in the table below:
Provided the reuse of Category I rigid plastic packaging in food contact applications shall be subject to
regulation of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. In cases, where it is not possible to meet the obligation in
respect of reuse of rigid plastic packaging on account of statutory or technical requirements, the exemption will be
granted by Central Pollution Control Board on case-to-case basis.
Note: 1. statutory requirement would mean the case where use of recycled content is not allowed by any other
law in force.
2. Technical requirement would mean the case where use of recycled content renders the packaged material
unfit for intended use.
Minimum obligation to reuse for Category I (rigid plastic packaging).
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| Sr. No. | Year | Target (as percentage of Category |
| | | I rigid plastic packaging in |
| | | product sold annually) |
+=========+=====================================================+====================================================+
| (1) | (2) | (3) |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| A | Category I rigid plastic packaging with volume or | |
| | weight equal or more than 0.9 litre or kg but less than| |
| | 4.9 litres or kg, as the case may be | |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 1. | 2025-26 | 10 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 2. | 2026-27 | 15 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 3. | 2027-28 | 20 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 4. | 2028-29 and onwards | 25 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| B | Category I rigid plastic packaging with volume of | |
| | weight equal or more than 4.9 litres or kg used for | |
| | packaging of drinking water. | |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 1. | 2025-26 | 70 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 2. | 2026-27 | 75 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 3. | 2027-28 | 80 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 4. | 2028-29 and onwards | 85 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| C | Category I rigid plastic packaging with volume of | |
| | weight equal or more than 4.9 litres or kg used for | |
| | packaging of products other than drinking water. | |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 1. | 2025-26 | 10 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 2. | 2026-27 | 10 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 3. | 2027-28 | 15 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| 4. | 2028-29 and onwards | 15 |
+---------+-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
The quantity of rigid packaging reused by Brand Owners shall be calculated by reducing virgin plastic packaging
manufactured/imported/purchased in that year from the sales of the Brand Owners:
Provided that the brand owner may be allowed to carry forward any shortfall of minimum obligation to reuse
for Category I (rigid plastic packaging), for the year 2025-26, for a period of three years starting from 2026-27, over
and above the target mandated for those years.
The Brand Owners shall provide this information on the centralized portal developed by Central Pollution Control
Board."
(ii) for sub-clause (e), the following sub-clause shall be substituted, namely:-
"(e) Obligation for use of recycled plastic content (refer example 6 in Annexure)
(i) The brand owner shall ensure use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging category-wise as given below:
Mandatory use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging
(% of plastic manufactured for the year)
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Plastic packaging category| 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 and onwards|
+=========================+=========+=========+=========+====================+
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Category I | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Category II | 10 | 10 | 20 | 20 |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
| Category III | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 |
+-------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------------------+
(ii) In cases, where it is not possible to meet the obligation in respect of recycled plastic content on account of
statutory or technical requirements, the exemption will be granted by Central Pollution Control Board on case-to-case
basis.
Note: 1. statutory requirement would mean the case where use of recycled content is not allowed by any other
law in force.
2. Technical requirement would mean the case where use of recycled content renders the packaged material
unfit for intended use.
(iii) Use of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging used in food contact applications
The brand owner may be allowed to carry forward any shortfall in fulfilment of mandatory use of recycled plastic in
plastic packaging, for the year 2025-26, for a period of three years starting from 2026-27, over and above the target
mandated for those years.".
[F. No. 17/4/2025-HSM]
NEELESH KUMAR SAH, Joint Secretary
Note.- The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, vide number G.S.R. 320(E), dated the 18th March,
2016 and subsequently amended vide notification number G.S.R. 285(E), dated the 27th March, 2018; G.S.R. 571(E),
dated the 12th August, 2021; G.S.R. 647(E), dated the 17th September, 2021; G.S.R. 133(E), dated the 16th February
2022; G.S.R. 522(E) dated the 7th July 2022; G.S.R. 318(E), dated the 27th April 2023; G.S.R. 807(E) dated the 30th
October 2023; G.S.R. 201(E) dated the14th March 2024 and last amended vide notification number G.S.R. 73 (E)
dated the 23rd January 2025.