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Plastic Waste Management in India: Challenges, Opportunities, and Roadmap for Circular Economy

Author

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  • Rumana Hossain

    (Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology, SMaRT@UNSW, School of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Md Tasbirul Islam

    (Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology, SMaRT@UNSW, School of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Riya Shanker

    (Director’s Research Cell, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440 020, India)

  • Debishree Khan

    (Director’s Research Cell, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440 020, India)

  • Katherine Elizabeth Sarah Locock

    (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australian Manufacturing and Materials Precinct, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia)

  • Anirban Ghose

    (Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology, SMaRT@UNSW, School of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Heinz Schandl

    (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia)

  • Rita Dhodapkar

    (Director’s Research Cell, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440 020, India)

  • Veena Sahajwalla

    (Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology, SMaRT@UNSW, School of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

Abstract

Plastic waste (PW) is one of the most rapid-growing waste streams in municipal solid waste all over the world. India has become a global player in the plastic value chain. Despite low consumption, domestic generation and imports create a significant burden on the overall waste management system, which requires in-depth understanding of the scenario and pathways that can mitigate the crisis. Although Indian researchers have widely researched technology-related issues in academic papers, a substantial knowledge gap exists in understanding the problem’s depth and possible solutions. This review article focuses on current plastic production, consumption, and waste generation in India. This review article mainly analyzes data and information regarding Indian PW management and highlights some critical issues such as reverse supply chain, effective PW management, source-specific recovery, and PW rules in India. Comprehensively, this review will help to identify implementable strategies for policymakers and research opportunities for future researchers in holistic PW management and recycling in India, focusing on the circular economy and sustainable development goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Rumana Hossain & Md Tasbirul Islam & Riya Shanker & Debishree Khan & Katherine Elizabeth Sarah Locock & Anirban Ghose & Heinz Schandl & Rita Dhodapkar & Veena Sahajwalla, 2022. "Plastic Waste Management in India: Challenges, Opportunities, and Roadmap for Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-34, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:8:p:4425-:d:789401
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ananthi Rajayya & Rajiv Nair & Viswanathan Pozhamkandath Karthiayani, 2025. "India’s Transition to a Circular Economy Towards Fulfilling Agenda 2030: A Critical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Tanya Arora & Sarvani Reddy Chirla & Nimisha Singla & Lovleen Gupta, 2023. "Product Packaging by E-commerce Platforms: Impact of COVID-19 and Proposal for Circular Model to Reduce the Demand of Virgin Packaging," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(3), pages 1255-1273, September.
    3. Antonio Carlos Braz & Adriana Marotti Mello, 2024. "Supply chain management strategies, types and tactics for circular economy transitions," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 74(4), pages 2121-2148, December.
    4. B. T. Ramesh & Javed Sayyad & Arunkumar Bongale & Anupkumar Bongale, 2022. "Extraction and Performance Analysis of Hydrocarbons from Waste Plastic Using the Pyrolysis Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Hridoy Roy & Samiha Raisa Alam & Rayhan Bin-Masud & Tonima Rahman Prantika & Md. Nahid Pervez & Md. Shahinoor Islam & Vincenzo Naddeo, 2022. "A Review on Characteristics, Techniques, and Waste-to-Energy Aspects of Municipal Solid Waste Management: Bangladesh Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-25, August.
    6. Amit Kumar Das & Uday Chatterjee & Jenia Mukherjee, 2023. "COVID-19 and waste management policy practices in India: a systematic review," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 1371-1393, December.
    7. Gemechu Abdissa & Abebe Ayalew & Anna Dunay & Csaba Bálint Illés, 2022. "Role of Reverse Logistics Activities in the Recycling of Used Plastic Bottled Water Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-20, June.
    8. Anna Szeląg-Sikora & Aneta Oleksy-Gębczyk & Józef Ciuła & Mariusz Cembruch-Nowakowski & Katarzyna Peter-Bombik & Paulina Rydwańska & Tomasz Zacłona, 2024. "Energy Transformation Within the Framework of Sustainable Development and Consumer Behavior," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-34, December.
    9. Muhammad Rifqi Maarif & Arif Budy Pratama & Michael Hutahaean & Arif Rahman Saleh & Norma Latif Fitriyani & Muhammad Syafrudin, 2025. "Tweeting Circular Economy: Unveiling Current Discourse Through Natural Language Processing," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(3), pages 3888-3905, June.
    10. Shashank Shekhar & Md Enamul Hoque & Pramendra Kumar Bajpai & Habibul Islam & Bhasha Sharma, 2024. "Chemical upcycling of plastics as a solution to the plastic trash problem for an ideal, circular polymer economy and energy recovery," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 5629-5664, March.

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