Overview of Plastic Waste Export License

A Plastic Waste Export License is an authorization document that empowers the firms legally export plastic wastes for recycling or disposal subject to some international set standards. Therefore, MoEF&CC legalises the exportation of plastic in a bid to check the rampant flow of unmanaged plastic scrap to India. Owing to the absence of infrastructure and a proper collection method the used plastic ends up being dumped and not recycled. In turn, through exportation of the plastic waste, the MoEF&CC seeks to reduce the effects of environmental degradation and absolve the local waste management systems. It makes sure that the plastic scrap which is very difficult to recycle is being processed in the countries where they are likely to have better recycling facilities and at the same time, India can focus on improving its waste management system.

Advantages of Plastic Waste Export License

• Environmental Protection: Helps to prevent littering of the environment with plastic material thus ensuring the waste is dealt with in the right manner.
• Regulated Export: Able to permit export of clean residual plastic waste for recycling thus reducing on the disposal of plastic waste in foreign countries.
• Promotes Global Recycling: Helps to export the plastic waste to the stations in other countries that have extensive recycling systems to enhance recycling throughout the world.
• Encourages Compliance: Encourages the compliance of businesses to wastes management regulation, therefore promoting proper management of wastes.
• Supports Circular Economy: Catalyser in recycling of waste feeding into the global circular economy system by utilising the curse of plastic waste.
• Reduces Landfill Usage: Reduces the amount of plastics that are dumped within the landfills, thereby reducing the life span of the landfills and their effects to the environment.
• Economic Opportunity: Creates a chance for organizational establishments that deal with waste collection, segregation, and exportation which in return promotes economic development.
• International Cooperation: Enhances the international cooperation in waste management that complies with the global objectives and norms.

Regulatory Framework

• Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016: This is the key legislation governing the export and import of hazardous and other wastes, including certain categories of plastic waste.
• Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT): The DGFT regulates the import and export of goods, including plastic waste, through its Foreign Trade Policy (FTP).

Eligibility for Export

• You must be a registered entity (company, partnership, etc.) and have an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) from the DGFT.
• The plastic waste must not be classified as hazardous under the Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules.

The types of plastic waste permitted for export under the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) typically include:

• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): Sometimes thrown in beverage bottles and food materials, the PET plastic waste is often shipped for recycling in new bottles, fibre and suchlike substances.
• High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): Known to be recyclable, HDPE waste which is found in milk jugs and detergent bottles is easy to export.
• Polypropylene (PP): Some of the common items made from PP include yogurt containers, bottle cap and auto parts, The PP plastic waste is often exported to other countries for recycling.
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): While not as frequent, PVC when used in pipes, floorings and particularly in products such as medical apparatus can be exported where certain rules and regulation on the effects on the environment have been met.
• Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE): Another form of plastic waste is LDPE that is utilized in creation of plastic bags, shrink wraps, squeezable bottles among others; these materials can also be exported for recycling.
• Polystyrene (PS): PS waste which is allowed to be exported is found in disposable coffee cups, plastic food boxes and cutleries collected and processed for use into insulations among others.
• Polycarbonate (PC): Some of the PC plastic wastes produced are used in electronic devices, eyewear lenses and medical equipment, while others are exported for recycling although handling involves certain level of precautions because of its chemical content.
• Mixed Plastics: Baled mixed plastic waste which falls under some categories has to be sorted by polymer type and quality then can be exported for recycling.

These plastics must typically be non-hazardous, properly segregated, and meet international standards to be eligible for export. The specific regulations and types may vary based on changes in policy and international agreements.

Permissions required for Plastic Waste Export-

As per Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016-

• Export of hazardous and other wastes from India listed in Part A and Part B of Schedule III and Schedule VI requires permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Rule 12.7).
• For export of wastes listed in Part A of Schedule III and Schedule VI, prior informed consent of the importing country is required (Rule 12.7).
• To export waste, an occupier must make an application in Form 5 along with insurance cover to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Rule 14.1).
• The Ministry may give permission for the proposed export within 60 days of receiving a complete application, and may impose conditions as necessary (Rule 14.2).
• The exporter must ensure no consignment is shipped before receiving prior informed consent from the importing country, where applicable (Rule 14.4).
• The shipment must be accompanied by a movement document in Form 6 (Rule 14.5).
• Exporters must maintain records of exported waste in Form 3 (Rule 14.6).
• Export of hazardous or other wastes is deemed illegal if it is without permission, obtained through falsification, doesn't conform to shipping details, or results in deliberate disposal in contravention of the Basel Convention (Rule 15.1).

The rules lists solid plastic waste under Basel No. B3010 as one of the wastes that can be imported, subject to certain conditions and documentation requirements.

Procedure for Registration of Plastic Waste Export License

Import Export Code Registration for India

The registration for Import Export Code (IEC) in India involves obtaining a ten-digit code issued by the Ministry of Commerce. This code is essential for all import and export operations within the country. The IEC is sanctioned by the Director-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Notably, exporters are not required to reapply for the IEC or seek its renewal. The application process is conducted online, necessitating the submission of specific documents, bank information, and a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), which are then verified by the relevant authorities. Upon successful submission of the required documents, the IEC is provided to the business owner or exporter in a digital format, facilitating the export of plastic scrap from India.

In addition to the Import Export Code (IEC) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) certificates, exporters must also acquire the necessary consent certificates, namely the Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate, for their export plastic scrap business.

The Consent to Establish (CTE) is a very important factor that one requires to obtain before engaging in export of plastic scrap in India. Before the formation of the unit, the exporter has to get consent as per the provision of the Plastic Waste Management Rules as per the Air and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Acts.
Likewise the Consent to Operate (CTO) is also necessary for the functioning of export plastic scrap business in India. According to the provisions of the PWM Rules, this consent must be secured only after the unit is formed and is ready to start exporting plastic scrap for which it has to follow the guidelines under Air and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Acts.

These certificates are also granted under the Water and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Acts and the procedure of obtaining these is as follows. This involves filling of an application through an online centralized portal of the concerned Union Territory Pollution Control Committee or the State Pollution Control Board. The application should be, however, submitted with the necessary certifications, paperwork, or permits according to CPCB’s implementation protocols. Finally, the authorities will scrutinize the application that has been submitted after going through all the processes.

How Whizseed can help you?

• Streamlined Registration Process: Whizseed can assist companies in applying for Obtaining Importer Exporter Code Number from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Information on how to file all the papers needed to get the IEC is freely available on our website along with checklists and prompts to help the enterprises obtain it effectively.
• Expert Consultation: It also connects with experts that can give professional advice and directions regarding the type of plastic wastes that can be exported and the things that one should know about export laws and standards of different countries as well as updates on the current changes in the export laws.
• Regulatory Compliance Made Easy: It may be quite challenging to go through all these laws as a layman; however, by employing Whizseed service, the process is streamlined through instructions and tools that will serve in compliance with all the legal requirements.
• Customizable Solutions: Integrated into this model is the ability to tailor Whizseed to your business where the guidelines and processes of each business will shape the delivery of regulatory and operational solutions.