The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change on 6th October 2021 has notified the framework for implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The regulation set out the roles and responsibilities of Producers, Importers, Brand Owners, CPCB/SPCBs/PCCs, recycler.
Producer of plastic packaging, Importer of all imported plastic packaging and / or plastic packaging of imported products, Brand Owners including online platforms/marketplaces and supermarkets/retail chains other than those, which are micro and small enterprises as per the criteria of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Plastic Waste Processors will be covered under the EPR obligations and they shall register on the centralized portal developed by CPCB.
The regulation has notified the minimum level of recycling (excluding end of life disposal) of plastic packaging waste collected under EPR Target and only those plastics, which cannot be recycled such as multilayered multi-material plastics (at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of other material), will be sent for end of life disposal such as road construction, waste to energy, waste to oil, cement kilns (for co-processing) etc. as per relevant guidelines issued by Indian Road Congress/CPCB from time to time.
CPCB shall lay down guidelines for imposition and collection of environment compensation on PIBOs, recyclers and end of life processors, in case of non-fulfilment of obligations set out in these regulations and also for violations of conditions or false information / certificates as mandated under these guidelines.
The Environment Compensation shall be levied by Central Pollution Control Board on the PIBOs operating in more than two states with respect to non-fulfilment of their EPR targets, responsibilities and obligations set out in these guidelines.
