Plastic waste imports to India go up: report

Plastic waste imports to India go up: report

News

According to environmentalist organisation, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Smriti Manch (PDUSM), despite a ban on the import of plastic waste into India, the import of PET bottles has quadrupled from 2017 to 2018

Important Facts

1. The Indian government banned the import of plastic waste, particularly PET bottles in 2015.
2. Despite the ban, the imports of PET bottle scrap & flakes has increased from 12,000 tonnes in FY 16-17 to 48,000 tonnes in FY 17-18 growing @ 290%.
3. India imports plastic scraps from China, Italy, Japan and Malawi for recycling

1. Cause of increasing Imports

• The PDUSM has observed that legal loophole has led to increasing imports of plastic waste. In 2016, an amendment allowed plastic imports as long as they were carried out by agencies situated in SEZs. This provision has been exploited making way for plastic imports.