The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on September 07, 2026, issued the Draft Guidelines on the Environmentally Sound Management of Category III Multilayered Plastic Packaging Waste.
The CPCB, in compliance with directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), has proposed updated guidelines for the environmentally sound management of Category III Multilayered Plastic (MLP) Packaging Waste. The guidelines have been developed considering amendments to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the EPR Guidelines for Plastic Packaging, the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, and advancements in recycling technologies.
The guidelines provide a uniform framework covering generation, collection, segregation, transportation, channelization, recycling, end-of-life processing, technology evaluation and EPR implementation. They apply specifically to packaging having at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of non-plastic material; Category II multilayer packaging consisting of different types of plastic is excluded.
Under the EPR framework, Producers, Importers and Brand Owners (PIBOs), Plastic Waste Processors and other stakeholders have defined responsibilities for collection, segregation, recycling and end-of-life management. PIBOs are expected to establish collection points/MRFs and ensure collected waste is channelized to registered recyclers or authorized end-use facilities, with traceability maintained through the CPCB's centralized EPR Portal.
The Last Date for Comments/Suggestions on Draft "Guidelines on the environmentally sound management of category III multilayered plastic packaging waste is September 17, 2026.
