Mandatory use of recycled plastic in packaging, new rules to promote recycling

NEW DELHI: The Center has notified an amendment to plastic waste management rules that will make it mandatory for manufacturers, importers and brand owners to use recycled plastic in packaging and have labels and markings indicating the use of recycled material.The new regulations, notified by the environment ministry on Tuesday, provide for stricter compliance to make recycling and waste management systems more robust and comprehensive.They have also set classification targets to gradually increase from 2025-26 to 2028-29 and beyond to use recycled plastic in packaging as per government-mandated standards.Producers and importers must also comply with the “applicable marking and labeling requirements” prescribed for food products by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).However, the target of mandating the use of recycled plastic in packaging will not apply in cases where the use of recycled plastic is not allowed under various laws or regulations notified by the central government or statutory bodies such as FSSAI, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization and Central Pesticides Board.As per the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2026, the Central Pollution Control Board will frame a mechanism for reporting the usage of recycled materials on a centralized online portal.The state/UT level monitoring committees will be constituted by the concerned state governments and UT administrations for effective monitoring and implementation of the revised rules.Local bodies in urban and rural areas will be the primary enforcement agencies of the rules, which will come into effect immediately.