Overview of EPR Authorization for Plastic Waste Management

Plastic pollution can occur at every stage of the life-cycle, including production, usage, and final disposal. Serious problems may occur in area where no proper collection and management. Plastic waste is a consequence of the manufacturing, utilization, and elimination of plastic products made from either a single type of resin or multiple types of resin, along with paper and/or metal.

How Plastic Waste effecting Environment

These tiny microplastics function as miniature sponges, containing a variety of chemicals that are absorbed. Plastic presents a continuous crisis for human and planetary health, necessitating immediate global intervention. Not only are humans affected, but ocean ecosystems are also suffering. Studies have demonstrated that plastics can disrupt the reproductive capabilities of animals, posing significant threats to our food chain and the communities dependent on these ecosystems for their sustenance.

Root Causes of Plastic Waste

Following factors responsible for Plastic Waste:

• Single-Use Culture: As today’s scenario plastic is easy and cheap to generate so it make single use item that cause wide number of plastic waste.
• Inadequate Waste Management Infrastructure: There is no proper management of plastic waste such as collection, disposal and recycling chains.
• Lack of Awareness and Education: As we are living in era where plastic available everywhere but no one is having awareness regarding harmful effects of plastic wastes.
• Limited Recycling Capacity: As India is developing country we have few or limited recycling units as compared to other countries. That is most common source of plastic waste.

Types of Plastic

The seven types of plastic include:

• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET)
• High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Figure: Types of Plastic
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
• Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polystyrene or Styrofoam (PS)
• Miscellaneous plastics (includes: polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass, and nylon)

What is EPR Authorization for Plastic Waste Management?

EPR authorization involves responsibility of various authorities and manufactures and producers even recyclers a mandate for proper disposal of plastic waste. This mandate provides various functions and duties which must be fulfilled by them otherwise they were liable for strict majors that might be taken against them. And these mandates also provide some guidelines like labeling, registration on online portal etc.

The Government of India introduced EPR for Plastic Waste Management which is governed by Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016. This defines “the responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life.”

Benefits of EPR Authorization for Plastic Waste Management

• Accountability: EPR authorization make producers, manufactures, recyclers and other entities responsible to the government to their plastic waste.
• Increased Recycling Rates: EPR authorization fixes targets for every entity under which they should dispose or recycle waste, which ultimately results in increased disposal rates.
• Cost Savings: By using these techniques we can save lot of expenditure as from beginning of production proper treatment of waste policies were implemented.
• Environmental Protection: EPR Authorization puts responsibility of recycling to various entities which are also helpful in environmental protection.
• Innovation and Collaboration: EPR authorization approaches more eco-friendly measures for collecting and disposing waste and adopts new innovations and techniques for waste disposal.

Challenges and Considerations

While EPR authorization holds great promise for enhancing plastic waste management, several challenges must be addressed for effective implementation:

• Regulatory Framework: Strict and mandatory regulations should followed by Government for proper implementation.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaboration with each other by producers, recyclers, consumers, and government agencies is critical for the success of EPR programs.
• Infrastructure Investment: Infrastructure Investment plays important role in EPR Authorization as the more methods we have the better management can be done by us.
• Consumer Education: Consumer awareness through various programmers and activities should be promoted in order to fulfill EPR Authorization.

Which entities shall register on the centralized portal developed by CPCB?

The below listed entities are required to sign up on the centralized portal that has been established by CPCB:

• Manufacturer (P)
• Importer (I)
• Brand Proprietor (BO)
• Plastic Waste Processor involved in (a) reprocessing, (b) converting waste to energy, (c) converting waste to oil, and (d) business composting.

Responsibility of producers, Importers and Brand Owners

• The producers are required to develop a waste collection system based on Extended Producers Responsibility within six months of the publication of these rules. This system should involve the State Urban Development Departments, either individually or collectively, and can be implemented through their own distribution channel or through the relevant local body.
• Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners bear the primary responsibility for collecting used multi-layered plastic sachets, pouches, or packaging. It is their duty to establish a comprehensive system for retrieving the plastic waste generated by their products. This collection plan must be submitted to the State Pollution Control Boards when applying for Consent to Establish, Operate, or Renewal. Brand Owners whose consent has been renewed prior to the notification of these regulations must submit their collection plan within one year from the date of notification and implement it within two years thereafter.

What are the categories of plastic packaging covered under EPR?

The plastic packaging categories included in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) are as follows:

Category I: This includes rigid plastic packaging.

Category II: This category covers flexible plastic packaging, which can be single-layered or multilayered. It also includes plastic sheets, covers, carry bags, sachets, and pouches.

Category III: Multilayered plastic packaging is included in this category, which consists of at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material other than plastic.

Category IV: This category includes plastic sheets or similar items used for packaging, as well as carry bags made of compostable plastics. For more detailed information, please refer to the EPR Guidelines (Section 5).

Explicit pricing of carry bags.- Shop owners and street vendors who wish to offer plastic carry bags must first register with the local authorities. Within six months of the rules being published in the Official Gazette of India, the local body will establish a system for registration. A plastic waste management fee of at least forty-eight thousand rupees, or four thousand rupees per month, must be paid by the registered individuals. The local body has the authority to set a higher fee based on sales capacity. Registered shop owners must visibly indicate that plastic carry bags are available for purchase. Only those who are registered are permitted to provide plastic carry bags. The funds collected from customers for the bags will be used solely for waste management initiatives within the local area.

Documents Required for EPR Registration of PIBOS/PWPS

• PAN, GST, CIN numbers are required for the company.
• Importers need to provide their IEC number.
• The authorized person should provide their Aadhar or PAN card.
• If the unit is registered with DIC, DIC registration is necessary.
• Process flow diagrams are required for producers and PWPs.
• If the unit has a production facility, consents issued by SPCB/PCC are needed.
• Scanned copies of authorized persons' signatures are required. - A covering letter should be included.
• For PWPs, geo-tagged pictures of raw material storage area, production area, product dispatch area, and plant machinery are necessary.
• Any other relevant documents that the unit wishes to provide should also be included.

Process for EPR for Plastic Waste Management

To obtain EPR for Plastic Waste Management, PIBOs are required to submit an online application along with the necessary information, documents, and application fees. The process of EPR Registration is as follows:

• Documentation: Prior to filling out the application form, it is important to have copies of all relevant documents in pdf, jpg, or png file formats readily available.
• Registration for login credentials: The application process begins with self-registration on the centralized portal in order to obtain login credentials. This is followed by the completion of the application form.
• Submission of application: Once self-registration is complete, the Applicant will receive login credentials to file the Application form. Separate application pages have been created for Producers, Brand owners, and Importers. The Applicant must provide section-wise information and upload all relevant documents for EPR Registration.
• Submission of application fee: Along with the application for Registration, the Applicant is required to pay the application fees. The fees can be paid online using the integrated payment gateway on the portal.
• Processing of application: If the PIBOs operate in one or two states, the Online applications filed by PIBOs will be transferred to the respective SPCBs/PCCs on the same portal for further processing. The remaining applications will be processed by CPCB.
• Grant of EPR Registration: The registration application will be processed within 15 days by authorized officials for the grant of EPR registration. In case false information/documents are found to have been submitted, the applications will be rejected. If the application is deemed complete, CPCB/SPCB/PCC will issue EPR registration certificates to PIBOs using a digital signature integrated into the portal.

Validity, Renewal & Cancellation of EPR Registration

A fresh registration will remain valid for a period of one year, while a renewed registration will remain valid for a period of three years.

PIBO must submit the renewal application, along with the necessary documents, four months prior to the expiration of the Registration.

If the document submitted by the PIBO is found to be false, the granted EPR Plastic waste registration may be cancelled or suspended at any given time.

The registration provided under this regulation cannot be revoked, suspended, or cancelled without granting the producer or the individual involved in recycling or processing of plastic wastes an opportunity for a hearing.

Fee structure for EPR in Plastic Waste Management License varies based on the type of organization. For PIBOs handling less than 1000 TPA, the fee is Rs. 10,000. For those managing between 1,000-10,000 TPA, the fee is Rs. 20,000. Organizations with more than 10,000 TPA are required to pay Rs. 50,000.

On the other hand, for PWPs managing less than 200 TPA, the fee is Rs. 5,000. For those handling between 200-2000 TPA, the fee is Rs. 20,000. Organizations managing more than 2000 TPA are required to pay Rs. 50,000.

Renewal for Plastic Waste Management

The cost of renewal shall be the same as the cost of EPR's initial registration.

Annual Processing Charges shall be 25% of EPR Application Fees.

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