Analysis of the plastic waste value chain in India

This scoping study by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes the plastic waste value chain in India, with a specific case study focus on Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. It maps the complex ecosystem of public and private stakeholders, evaluates the national and regional regulatory frameworks, and identifies barriers to effective implementation. The report highlights the critical role of the informal sector in achieving high recycling rates while noting significant gaps in waste segregation, funding for tourist destinations, and the lack of viable alternatives to single-use plastics. It also documents innovative repurposing techniques, such as using plastic waste for road construction and fuel production.

• 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 bottles recycled in the country, though this informality complicates the implementation of formal national or regional management processes.
• A significant amount of unrecyclable plastic waste is improperly managed, ending up in open landfills or the ocean, which remains a major challenge.
• India generates approximately 9.4 million tons of plastic waste annually, averaging 26,000 tons per day.
• The Indian government has 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' blocks for construction, the conversion of plastic waste into automotive grade gasoline and diesel, and the production of polyester fibre from PET bottles.
• The 2021 amendment to the Plastic Waste Management Rules banned the manufacture, use, sale, import, and handling of specific single-use plastics, and increased the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags to 75 microns from September 30, 2021, and to 120 microns from December 31, 2022.
• Policy implementation is hindered by several barriers, including a lack of financially viable alternatives to single-use plastics, high transportation costs from collection sites to recycling plants, and a lack of long-term integration of informal stakeholders.
• Tourist destinations in India face an unequal burden of waste management because government funding is often based on the number of local households rather than the high volume of waste generated by visitors.

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} }