Why is it in the news?

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified amendments to the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The amendments aim to enhance plastic waste management practices in the country.

More about the news

• Introduction of a new rule assigning responsibilities to Panchayats at the district level that include assessing the generation of plastic waste and evaluating the available waste management infrastructure.
• Producers, importers, and brand owners introducing plastic packaging into the market are now obligated to ensure the collection of such packaging. This includes fulfilling the requirements of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which entails managing the product’s environmental impact until the end of its life cycle.
• Manufacturers and importers of plastic raw materials are required to submit quarterly and annual reports online to the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Pollution Control Committee (PCC).
• Urban local bodies and Panchayats at the district level are mandated to submit annual reports to Urban/Rural Development Departments and SPCB/PCC.
• These reports will be audited by designated agencies to ensure compliance with plastic waste management regulations.