Plastic Waste Export India: Complete Guide to Export Plastic Scrap Licensing & Compliance

India generates millions of tonnes of plastic waste every year, and a large share of it has no proper collection or recycling system to absorb it. This has made plastic waste management and plastic pollution India two of the most pressing environmental challenges the country faces today. To deal with this problem, the government allows the controlled export of plastic scrap to other countries under strict plastic waste export policy rules. This gives businesses a legal, eco-friendly way to clear surplus plastic waste while also earning foreign revenue, instead of letting it pile up in landfills, rivers, or oceans. However, exporting plastic scrap is not as simple as loading a container and shipping it out — it requires authorisation from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), registration under waste management regulations, and full compliance with the Hazardous and Other Waste (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.

This is where expert compliance support becomes valuable. Businesses looking to enter the plastic scrap export trade need help navigating authorisation forms, pollution board consents, import-export codes, and recurring compliance filings — all of which are central to building a sustainable circular economy india model. Our service is built to simplify this entire journey: from registration and documentation to authorisation and post-approval compliance, we help exporters meet every requirement of India's plastic waste statistics-backed regulatory framework, so they can start or scale their export plastic scrap business in a cost-effective, hassle-free, and fully legal manner.

What Is Export Plastic Scrap?

Export of plastic scrap means legally sending recyclable plastic waste from India to other countries for recycling and reuse. This activity is closely monitored under India's plastic waste management framework because plastic waste is classified as a controlled material — it cannot be exported without a valid authorisation, insurance cover, and consent from the importing country.

India currently exports plastic scrap to more than 40 countries. Vietnam, Russia, the USA, South Korea, and Nepal are among the top trade partners. While the export value has come down sharply over the last decade (from over USD 8 million in 2011 to under USD 1 million in recent years), the trade continues under tighter rules that focus on quality, traceability, and environmental safety rather than volume.

Permitted Types of Plastic Waste for Export

As per the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, only specific categories of plastic scrap are allowed to be exported:

• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE)
• High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC-U)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polystyrene / Styrofoam (PS)
• Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
• Other permitted plastic categories as notified by CPCB from time to time

Who Needs This Service? (Sectors & Products Covered)

This service is essential for any business or individual involved in the India waste imports and exports trade, or in domestic plastic waste handling. It applies to:

• Plastic scrap traders and exporters – Businesses that collect, sort, and export plastic waste in bulk.
• Recyclers and processors – Units that clean, shred, or bale plastic waste before export.
• Plastic manufacturers and packaging companies – Producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs) who generate plastic packaging waste and need to route surplus scrap responsibly.
• Waste management and recycling businesses – Companies setting up new plastic waste processing or export operations.
• E-commerce, FMCG, food & beverage, pharma, and consumer goods companies – Brands using plastic packaging that fall under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations and may also need to manage surplus plastic scrap.
• Import-export trading houses – Companies expanding into environmentally regulated commodities.

Products commonly covered: PET bottles and flakes, HDPE containers, PVC scrap, PP woven sacks, PS/Styrofoam waste, LDPE films and bags, and other post-industrial or post-consumer plastic scrap permitted under the rules.

Eligibility for Export Plastic Scrap Authorisation

To be eligible to export plastic scrap from India, an applicant must generally meet the following conditions:

• Must be a registered business entity (proprietorship, partnership, LLP, or company) with a valid business address in India.
• Must hold a valid Import Export Code (IEC) issued by the DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade).
• Must have Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Pollution Control Committee (PCC).
• Must be able to submit informed consent documents from the importing country confirming they will accept the plastic waste shipment.
• Must have a valid insurance policy covering health and environmental liability during transit.
• Must be able to present the export justification and complete waste details (quantity, Basel Number, composition, and handling requirements) to the Ministry.
• Must be available (in person or through an authorised representative) for presentation before the Ministry's expert committee, if called.

Step-by-Step Process for Export Plastic Scrap Authorisation

1. Business & GST Registration

Register your business entity and obtain a GST certificate using your PAN card, incorporation certificate, MOA/AOA, Aadhaar card, and address/utility proof.

2. Apply for Import Export Code (IEC)

Apply online to DGFT with PAN, Aadhaar, incorporation/partnership documents, address proof, and a cancelled cheque or banker's certificate. IEC is a one-time registration and no renewal is needed.

3. Obtain Consent to Establish (CTE)

Apply to the State Pollution Control Board before setting up your export/processing unit, as required under the Air and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Acts.

4. Obtain Consent to Operate (CTO)

Once the unit is ready, apply for CTO. This step includes a mandatory site inspection by a government official, who submits a report before the consent is granted.

5. Register on the Centralised Online Portal

Register under the Hazardous and Other Waste (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, providing your mobile number, email address, and business details.

6. Submit Form 5 – Authorisation Application

Apply for MoEF&CC authorisation using Form 5, along with insurance cover and the importing country's informed consent documents (as prescribed under Schedule III and VI of the Hazardous Waste Rules).

7. Submit Supporting Documents

Along with Form 5, submit:

• Export justification
• Authorised Consent to Operate (under Water and Air Acts)
• EPR Authorisation (if applicable)
• Insurance policy covering transit liability
• Acknowledgement of application receipt from the PCB/SPCB
• Agreement copy between stakeholders
• Any prior MoEF&CC authorisation copy (if applicable)

8. Ministry Review & Committee Presentation

The Ministry reviews the application. If required, the exporter must present before the expert committee, and remain available for follow-up meetings — missing these can lead to cancellation of the application.

9. Receive Authorisation & PCB Copy

Once approved, the registration/certificate is issued, and a copy is simultaneously sent to the concerned Pollution Control Board or State Pollution Control Board.

10. Complete Form 6 (Movement Document)

For each actual shipment, Form 6 must be filed, capturing the exporter, generator, importer/trader details, bill of lading, quantity, Basel Number, waste description, packaging type, and carrier signature.

Documents Required

For IEC Registration

• PAN card of the company and applicant
• Aadhaar card
• Company incorporation certificate or partnership deed
• Address proof
• Cancelled cheque / current account banker's certificate

For Consent to Establish / Operate

• PAN card and Aadhaar card
• SSI/MSME certificate
• Industry Department certificate
• Project report and site/layout plan
• Water usage and effluent treatment plant details
• Raw material and product/by-product list
• Air pollution control details
• Factory/Trade licence and municipality/industry licence
• Water bill and groundwater authority consent

For GST Certificate

• PAN card
• Incorporation Certificate (MCA)
• MOA & AOA
• Aadhaar card
• Electricity/water bill
• Bank details

For MoEF&CC Authorisation (Form 5 & 6)

• Insurance cover document
• Importing country's informed consent
• Export justification letter
• CTO copy
• EPR authorisation (if applicable)
• Stakeholder agreement copy

Benefits of Getting Authorised for Plastic Waste Export

• Legal protection: Avoid penalties, shipment seizures, or business suspension due to non-compliance.
• Access to international markets: Trade with 40+ countries currently importing Indian plastic scrap.
• Supports circular economy india goals: Contributes to responsible plastic pollution india reduction instead of landfill dumping.
• Builds business credibility: Authorised exporters are trusted by international buyers and logistics partners.
• Foreign revenue generation: Converts waste plastic into an export commodity.
• One-time IEC: No repeated renewal needed once issued.
• Smoother customs clearance: Proper documentation avoids delays and shipment holds at ports.

Post-Approval Requirements

Getting authorised is not a one-time task — exporters must maintain ongoing plastic waste export policy compliance:

Form 6 filing for every shipment

Movement documents must be filed each time waste is exported, not just once.

Annual compliance reporting

Exporters must file returns as required by the SPCB/CPCB and MoEF&CC.

Renewal of Consent to Operate (CTO)

Must be renewed periodically as per state pollution board timelines.

Attendance at expert committee meetings

If the Ministry calls for review meetings, absence can lead to authorisation cancellation and require a fresh application.

EPR compliance for brand owners

If you are also a Producer/Importer/Brand Owner (PIBO), you must separately register on the CPCB EPR portal and fulfil annual recycling obligations. Note: as of the January 2026 EPR rule tightening, End-of-Life (EOL) disposal certificates can no longer be used to offset recycling targets — only category-matched recycling certificates count, and Annual Returns must be filed by the CPCB's notified deadline each year.

Maintain updated insurance cover

Transit liability insurance must remain valid for all shipments.

Record-keeping

Exporters must maintain records of waste quantity, composition, Basel Numbers, and buyer consent documents for audit purposes.

Get Expert Help with Plastic Scrap Export Authorisation

Need assistance exporting plastic waste from India? PSR Compliance provides complete end-to-end support—from IEC registration and CTE/CTO consents to MoEF&CC Form 5 authorisation, Form 6 filings, and post-approval compliance.

👉 Avoid shipment delays, documentation errors, and authorisation rejections with expert guidance.

📞 +91 8796104190
📧 support@psrcompliance.com