Pune leads India with 99% plastic waste segregation, but carry bags remain major challenge – CPCB

INDIA – Pune has emerged as India’s top performer in plastic waste management, achieving a 99% segregation rate, according to a new report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The study, Assessment and Characterisation of Plastic Waste, released on September 23, highlights Pune’s effective waste collection system while flagging plastic carry bags as a persistent challenge.

The report assessed waste in eight Indian cities – Bhopal, Vadodara, Mysuru, Vijayawada, Kolkata, Shillong, Pune, and Lucknow – to guide local authorities in tackling the growing problem of plastic pollution.

Using a three-stage random sampling method across income groups and geographic zones, the CPCB tracked both generation and disposal of plastic waste.

Findings revealed stark regional disparities. Shillong (15.3%) and Kolkata (11.7%) recorded the highest share of plastic in mixed garbage, while Pune posted the lowest at 7%.

At the disposal stage, Vadodara had the least plastic waste (4.38%) whereas Mysuru topped the list with 25%, indicating weaker segregation practices.

Pune’s unique model

In Pune, the study covered 15 wards between September 3–10, 2024. It found that while plastic waste generation increased from 5% in 2021 to 7.17% in 2024, nearly all of it is segregated and diverted from landfills.

Category two plastics dominated the waste stream, with plastic carry bags under 120 microns making up 90%, followed by plastic sheets below 50 microns (8%) and cigarette packets (2%).

Experts credit Pune’s success to its door-to-door collection model jointly run by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and SWaCH Pune Cooperative, a waste-picker collective.

“Pune records the lowest percentage of plastic waste at transfer stations because door-to-door collection diverts a large share of waste towards recycling even before it reaches municipal trucks,” said Harshad Barde, director of SWaCH.

“In areas serviced by waste pickers, nearly 37% of plastic is recycled, far higher than the national average of 12–14%. Strengthening and scaling this model can push Pune’s performance even further.”

The report underscores the urgency of city-specific strategies. India’s Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016), coupled with the single-use plastic ban of July 2022 and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines, aim to curb plastic pollution nationwide.

Yet, the findings show that despite strong frameworks, effective implementation still hinges on localized systems like Pune’s.

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