NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir has generated more than 225,000 tonnes of plastic waste over the last five years, highlighting the region’s growing environmental challenge due to plastic pollution. According to official data, plastic waste generation in Jammu and Kashmir stood at 34,367.37 tonnes in 2018-19, peaking at 74,826.33 tonnes in 2019-20 before declining to 51,710.6 tonnes in 2020-21, 34,384 tonnes in 2021-22, and 30,342 tonnes in 2022-23. Meanwhile, Ladakh, which was carved out as a separate Union Territory in 2019, has also reported plastic waste generation, with 1,915.05 tonnes recorded in 2021-22 and 860.5 tonnes in 2022-23.
The data was provided in response to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha on March 27, 2025, by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The figures are based on information collected by State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees. The Ministry stated that plastic waste, especially unmanaged and littered plastic, has adverse effects on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The government has taken various steps to tackle the issue, including the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, which provide a statutory framework for plastic waste disposal in an environmentally sound manner. The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021, banned certain single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022, due to their high littering potential.
Despite these regulations, Jammu and Kashmir continues to grapple with the environmental burden of plastic waste. While the overall trend indicates a decline in recent years, experts believe that sustained efforts in recycling and proper waste management are necessary to mitigate the ecological damage. The Union Territory must also strengthen its compliance with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, introduced in 2022, which requires producers and brand owners to ensure the collection and processing of plastic packaging waste. The Centre has urged local authorities to enforce plastic waste management regulations effectively and promote public awareness regarding the hazards of plastic pollution. Jammu and Kashmir has sold plastic waste management units in 51 blocks, the government said in a separate response
