Abstract
Plastics management remains a challenge in India. India generates > 4.1 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, yet a large portion of mixed or contaminated waste is mismanaged, ending in landfills or leaching into natural systems. A circular economy will enable better use and management of plastics, across design and production, use and end-of-life stages, to ensure valuable materials are kept longer in circulation, and new markets create demand for recovered materials. The right policy settings can be a huge enabler for the systems transition needed for India’s circular economy. Current policies tackle waste management, recycling, and extended producer responsibility. Evidence suggests a comprehensive policy agenda for the circular economy in India is needed to address the insufficient implementation and uptake of existing initiatives. This study aims to conduct a timely investigation into the nature and effectiveness of current policies, and to identify factors that are driving positive outcomes and policy interventions needed. The research adopted a qualitative methodology, involving desktop research and document analysis, semi-structured interviews, expert consultation and thematic analysis of the strengths, gaps and opportunities for policy in India. The results identified extended producer responsibility legislation to be a strength, yet there are many opportunities to improve its implementation with relevant standards, labelling, and expansion in scope. Despite many community education and training programs underway, we found single-use plastic bans were largely ineffective in most states, and that online platforms could play an integral role in facilitating collaboration and market development with India’s waste and recycling sector.