Myanmar

National Action Plan

Name(Year):
● National Plastic Management Action Plan (2026-2035)

Brief Description:

1. In Myanmar, to prevent the adverse impacts of plastic waste pollution on human health, ecosystems, and the environment, the National Plastic Management Action Plan was developed by a Technical Working Group (TWG) comprising relevant departments, state and regional governments, and private sector organizations.
2. The National Plastic Management Action Plan (2026–2035) was issued under Order Notification No. 80/2025 from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.
3. The NPMAP aims to transform Myanmar’s approach to plastic use and waste management, ensuring a sustainable, circular economy by 2035, while also contributing to regional efforts like the ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris.
4. The NPMAP aims to protect human health and the environment from plastic pollution including marine plastic pollution through a comprehensive, full life-cycle approach. Its vision is to “end plastic pollution by creating a resource-efficient economy grounded in circular practices.”
5. After the NPMAP was launched, three working groups will be established to implement plastic waste recycling strategies. These include: (1) the Working Group on Restricting Single-Use Plastics, (2) the Working Group on Implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) System, and (3) the Working Group on the Importation of Virgin Plastics and Products.
6. National Plastic Management Action Plan (NPMAP) prioritizes three core objectives: Reducing plastic waste into the system, developing a source-segregated waste collection system to minimize leakage into the environment and, promoting the use of circular materials and systems.
7. To achieve these goals, the NPMAP sets the following national targets:
   • Enact legislation to restrict the use of single-use plastics (SUPs),
   • Limit and reduce the import of virgin plastic and plastic scrap (recyclables),
   • Promote plastic recovery through a multi-stakeholder approach,
   • Reduce overall waste generation and increase recovery by promoting waste separation and recycling of plastic,
   • Apply 3R principles and circular production practices to all manufacturing processes supported by Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR),
   • Replace SUPs with sustainable alternatives, such as reusable, refillable, or biodegradable products.
8. This action plan will implement the four key strategies: policymaking, research, public education, and private sector engagement to ensure effective implementation and achieve the desired outcomes of reducing plastic pollution and fostering a circular economy.
9. This plan includes forty-one action plans, and three working groups will coordinate actions, monitor progress, and ensure that targets are met according to the defined timeline (short-term by 2026-2028, medium-term by 2028-2030, and long-term by 2030-2035).

Legal Framework

Name(Year):
Environmental Conservation Law (2012)
Brief Description:
Chapter VIII Management of Urban Environment include management of wastes and pollution control.

Name(Year):
Environmental Conservation Rules (2014)
Brief Description:
In Chapter (IX) Waste Management, the Ministry shall carry out waste treatment by the categories of business which emit or produce solid wastes, liquid wastes, emissions, radiations which contain poisonous and hazardous materials by establishing their own facility or center, or collective facility or center.

Name(Year):
Myanmar National Waste Management Strategy and Master Plan (2018-2030)
Brief Description:
The vision of Myanmar’s National Waste Management Strategy and Master Plan (2018-2030) is to create a “Sustainable, Green, Clean and Healthy Environment Towards a Brighter Future for Myanmar”. The vision is aligned with the principles outlined in the National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS,2009) and the National Environment Policy (2018). The mission is to develop and implement a holistic and integrated waste management strategy founded on the principles of inclusiveness, zero waste, zero emissions, and a circular economy to achieve a greener, cleaner, and healthier environment in Myanmar.

■ In Preparation
Name: Standard Operating Procedure-SOP for Industries and Urban Waste Management in Coastal Area
Brief Description:

• This SOP focuses on the six coastal regions of Myanmar and addresses the management of industrial and urban waste.
• It includes five action plans: generation, collection and transportation, transfer to stations, treatment, and final disposal.
• The procedure has been submitted to the cabinet for official approval.
• Once approved, under the leadership and guidance of the State/Region Government, relevant departments, committees, and bodies will be established and carry out monitoring and inspection of waste management systems related to industrial and urban activities in coastal areas to ensure effective governance and compliance.

Indicators and/or Targets

■ Plastic Recycling: National Plastic Management Action Plan
Indicators:

• Establishing systematic locations for Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to collect reusable materials from waste in urban municipalities and rural areas, as well as designated sites for proper landfilling.
• Implementing a system starting from major cities (Yangon, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw) in which plastic bottle manufacturing companies adopt a return scheme that allows consumers to return recyclable types of plastic bottles and receive a refund or financial incentive.

Targets (if any):

• A sufficient fund can be established and utilized to cover the costs of collecting and managing non-recyclable plastic waste.
• By segregating plastic waste at the source, each sector can more effectively manage and recover recyclable materials, while organic waste can be properly directed to designated landfill sites for final disposal.

■ Plastic Use Reduction: National Plastic Management Action Plan
Indicators:

• Restricting specific types of SUPs based on their applications and relevant sectors
• Implementing a fee system for SUP usage, with charges paid by consumers depending on location and sector
• Conducting regulatory inspections to ensure that plastic-related industries are appropriately licensed in accordance with SUP usage restrictions.

Targets (if any):

• Avoiding the use of unnecessary plastic materials can help reduce waste generation and promote the use of alternative materials.
• By informing consumers that plastic packaging bags are not provided for free at markets and food shops, they can be encouraged to bring and use alternative bags.

Technical Standards, Guidelines and Methodologies

Topics
■ Others:
Brief Description:
Although we didn’t have specific guidelines for monitoring marine litter, we use Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) Program’s Marine Litter Audit Guidebook to monitor and assess marine plastic litter along the beaches.

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