Analysis of the plastic waste value chain in India

The report analyzes India's plastic waste value chain, highlighting the critical role of the informal sector in achieving high recycling rates despite a relatively new and inconsistently enforced regulatory landscape. It identifies significant barriers to policy implementation, such as a lack of source segregation and the absence of affordable alternatives to single-use plastics. The document also showcases innovative repurposing techniques, including the use of plastic in road construction and fuel production, and provides sector-specific recommendations to improve the circularity and efficiency of the plastic waste system.

• India's plastic regulation is relatively recent and limited in scope, with the first national plastic waste policy implemented in 2011.
• The informal sector is a primary driver of India's high recycling rates, contributing 70% of PET bottle recycling, but its presence complicates the implementation of formal national and regional waste management processes.
• A significant volume of unrecyclable plastic waste is disposed of in open landfills or the ocean, which remains a major challenge.
• India has successfully integrated plastic waste into infrastructure, with approximately 703 km of national highways constructed using a mixture of 6-8% plastic waste and bitumen as of 2021.
• Innovative repurposing techniques in India include the creation of 'plastone' construction blocks in Tamil Nadu and the conversion of plastic waste into automotive-grade gasoline and diesel by institutions like the Indian Institute of Petroleum.
• Policy implementation is hindered by several barriers, including the high cost of alternative packaging, a lack of source segregation, and the absence of comprehensive data inventories for financing and waste processing.
• Tourist destinations, such as Mamallapuram, face an unequal waste management burden because government funding is often based on resident household numbers rather than the actual volume of waste generated by high visitor turnarounds.
• The 2021 amendment to the Plastic Waste Management Rules increased the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags to 75 microns (effective September 2021) and 120 microns (effective December 2022).

APA

Nikam, J., Ddiba, D., & Njoroge, G. (2022). Analysis of the plastic waste value chain in India. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/india-plastic-waste-value-chain-sei2022.037.pdf

Chicago

Nikam, Jaee, Daniel Ddiba, and George Njoroge. Analysis of the plastic waste value chain in India. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2022. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/india-plastic-waste-value-chain-sei2022.037.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Nikam |first1=Jaee |last2=Ddiba |first2=Daniel |last3=Njoroge |first3=George |title=Analysis of the plastic waste value chain in India |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=October 2022 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/india-plastic-waste-value-chain-sei2022.037.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{nikam2022analysis, author = {Nikam, Jaee and Ddiba, Daniel and Njoroge, George}, title = {{Analysis of the plastic waste value chain in India}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2022}, month = oct, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/india-plastic-waste-value-chain-sei2022.037.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }