Informal Sector, Plastic Waste Rules, 2011

The role of informal sector has been "explicitly" recognized by Ministry of Environment and Forests in the new Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 (available here). Recognition of the informal sector has been the most important feature of the new set of rules which will replace Plastic Waste (Management and Handling Rules), 1999 (amended in 2003). One has to understand that the recognition of the informal sector is for its role in recycling all kinds of materials from municipal solid wastes and e-wastes and is not limited to only plastics recycling. Although the role of informal sector was cited in many reports published by government agencies, coordinating with the informal sector as a stakeholder is now wholly the responsibility of Municipal Corporations.

Informal sector provides a useful service to the community and environment; saves above 9.5 lakh tonnes of CO₂ annually in Delhi alone