PPCB 14 brands summoned over plastic waste

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 11

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has summoned 14 leading national and multinational brands, identified as major contributors to hard-to-recycle plastic waste in Punjab.

The move follows the Plastic Waste Brand Audit-2025, conducted across Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali and Patiala, marking India’s first state-level brand audit of its kind.

The study analysed 6,991 kg of total municipal waste, of which 613 kg was plastic, with 88% of it found to be hard to recycle.

According to the PPCB, 11,810 plastic packets were examined and 14 major brands accounted for nearly 59 per cent of the non-recyclable waste.

PPCB Chairperson Reena Gupta said, “No company will be allowed to pollute Punjab. We will fix accountability and clean up all our cities. We have given them one month to prepare their plans. Failing which penal action will be taken.”

The pollution control body of the state has directed the companies to present clear, time-bound strategies that encourage consumers to return post-use plastic packaging.

It also warned that several producers were meeting their extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations only “on paper” through unverifiable certificates or by shifting waste processing to other states.