Jammu and Kashmir has generated approximately 225,630 tonnes of plastic waste over the past five years, according to official data.
The year-wise data reveals variations in plastic waste generation across the region.
In 2018-19, J&K generated 34,367.37 tonnes of plastic waste, which saw a significant spike to 74,826.33 tonnes in 2019-20. However, the trend reversed in subsequent years, with 51,710.6 tonnes generated in 2020-21, followed by 34,384 tonnes in 2021-22. In 2022-23, the figure further declined to 30,342 tonnes.
The government said the management of plastic waste is due to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, which mandate local bodies and gram panchayats to oversee the collection and transportation of plastic waste.
“Guidelines under the Swachh Bharat Mission have been issued to ensure door-to-door collection of solid waste, including plastic waste, in both urban and rural areas across the country,” officials said.
Further, the government said the introduction of a market-based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for plastic packaging. Notified on February 16, 2022, by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, this framework aims to bolster plastic waste management systems.
Under the EPR framework, Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) are tasked with developing collection and segregation systems for plastic packaging waste. These systems are designed based on different categories of plastic and can be implemented through various modalities to ensure effective waste management—(KNO)
