India’s Goa Passes Non-Biodegradable Garbage Bill 
India’s Goa state cabinet has passed the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2023 on August 1, 2023. The bill seeks to amend the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1996, of which its enforcement date is set to be notified in another matter. The bill clarifies definitions of producers, importers and brand owners, as well as mandating collection of non-biodegradable waste. Aluminium and Glass were also included as non-biodegradable garbage.
Below are the important definitions in the act and bill.
| Brand owner | A person or a company who manufactures and sells any commodity under a registered brand label |
| Importer | A person who imports non-biodegradable packaging product or products |
| Producer | Person engaged in manufacture or import of products made of non-biodegradable materials for packaging or wrapping the commodity |
| Occupier | Includes:
|
Under the amended Section 5, brand owners, producers, importers and occupiers are required to collect non-biodegradable waste from their respective land, buildings or locality, and deposit in places notified by the government (to be determined later).
Including aluminium and glass, there are 15 total non-biodegradable wastes notified by the state:
- Polyethylene
- Polycarbonate
- Polypropylene
- Polystyrene
- Polyziny1 Chloride (PVC)
- ABS
- Acetal
- Acrylic
- Cellulose Acetate
- Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
- Nylon
- Styrofoam
- Inter waste
- Glass
- Aluminium
Download the bill here:
https://static.gladns.in/goalpub/docs/bills/1351_final_BN40of-2023-AP.pdf
For reference, also download the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1996 here:
https://goaprintingpress.gov.in/?media_dl=489#:~:text=to%20prevent%20throwing%2C%20or%20depositing,connected%20therewith%20or%20incidental%20thereto.&text=India%20as%20follows%3A%E2%80%94-,1.,(Control)%20Act%2C%201996
