The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Merck) has issued the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2026 vide notification G.S.R. 237(E) dated 31st March 2026, amending the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
This amendment strengthens the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework by introducing mandatory recycled content targets, reuse obligations, enhanced audit mechanisms, and decentralized enforcement, based on stakeholder consultations and recommendations.