In a significant environmental crackdown, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has summoned fourteen prominent consumer brands following a comprehensive audit that identified them as major contributors to hard-to-recycle plastic waste across the state.
Brands Held Accountable for Plastic Pollution
The PPCB has issued directives requiring these companies to present time-bound and practical strategies for collecting and managing plastic packaging discarded by consumers. PPCB chairperson Reena Gupta delivered a strong message, stating that companies would not be permitted to pollute Punjab or shift responsibility elsewhere.
"We will clean our cities and ensure every polluter takes responsibility," Gupta emphasized, highlighting the board's commitment to enforcing accountability and improving on-ground action against plastic pollution.
Shocking Findings from Plastic Waste Audit 2025
The regulatory action stems from the comprehensive 'Plastic Waste Brand Audit 2025' conducted by the PPCB across six major Punjab cities: Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, and Patiala. The extensive audit examined waste collected from various residential and market areas to pinpoint brands generating the most plastic waste.
The audit revealed alarming statistics from the 6,991 kg of municipal waste studied. Approximately 613 kg was plastic, with findings showing that 88% of this plastic was non-recyclable. Out of 11,810 pieces of branded plastic packaging recovered, the fourteen identified brands were linked to nearly 59% of the non-recyclable waste.
Strengthening Extended Producer Responsibility
The Pollution Control Board exposed that some companies had been fulfilling their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations through unverifiable certificates or by diverting waste responsibilities to other states, practices that failed to address Punjab's local pollution challenges.
The PPCB has instructed the companies to submit clear collection models that include consumer incentives for returning used plastic packaging, partnerships with local recyclers, and verified waste-processing systems. The board also announced plans to strengthen monitoring and enforcement measures to ensure compliance.
The PPCB reaffirmed its commitment to making Punjab cleaner and ensuring industries actively contribute to developing a sustainable, circular waste management system that addresses the state's plastic pollution crisis effectively.
