Milk packets, chips wrappers, paper bags: Know which packaging is recyclable in India
India's waste management ecosystem has limitations when it comes to recycling various types of packaging materials, with recyclability depending on factors such as material composition, collection infrastructure, and end-market demand. PET bottles, HDPE containers, and some PP and LDPE packaging formats generally have established recycling pathways in the country.
However, multilayered snack wrappers, laminated pouches, and small, contaminated plastic films are more challenging to recycle due to their complex material combinations. Under India's Plastic Waste Management Rules, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework in place, which holds producers accountable for plastic packaging waste.
Despite the recycling symbol indicating material identification, it does not guarantee actual recycling. While reusable grocery bags, waste segregation, and choosing products with less unnecessary packaging can help consumers reduce plastic waste, the sustainability of various materials depends on their entire life cycle, including manufacturing, transportation, reuse, product protection, and end-of-life management.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides a more comprehensive comparison of the environmental impacts of different materials.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Indian Express - Lifestyle's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
