By PTI
NEW DELHI – The Environment Ministry has published comprehensive guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which are intended to help eliminate single-use plastics.
Bhupender Yadav, Union Environment Minister, announced the notification of the amended Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2022 via social media late Thursday night. He stated that the guidelines will provide a framework for strengthening the circular economy of plastic packaging and promoting alternatives to plastic.
Yadav had tweeted that “Taking forward PM Shri @narendramodi’s clarion call to eliminate single use plastics, @moefcc have notified comprehensive Guidelines for Extended Producers Responsibilities on plastic packaging.”
These guidelines not only provide a framework that will strengthen the circular economy for plastic packaging waste but also encourage the development and use of new plastics. They offer a roadmap to help businesses move towards sustainable plastic packaging.
Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) February 17, 2022
“The guidelines provide a framework for strengthening the circular economy of plastic packaging waste and encourage development of new plastics alternatives. In a tweet Yadav stated that they provide a roadmap to businesses for sustainable plastic packaging.
The notification indicates that the new guidelines will take effect immediately.
The new rules will classify plastics into four types: category one will include rigid packaging; category two will contain flexible plastic packaging with one or more layers.
Multi-layered plastic packaging, which includes at least one layer plastic and at most one layer of material other that plastic, will fall under category three. Plastic sheet or similar used for packaging and carry bags made from compostable plastics falls under category four.
The EPR covers plastic packaging and includes reuse, recycling, and use of recycled content. It also covers end-of-life disposal by producers, importers, and brand-owners.
Producers, importers, and brand owners will have to submit details of recycling certificates from registered recyclers, along with details of end-of-life disposal quantities, by June 30, 2019. This is in addition to filing annual returns via the online portal. It stated that the online portal will cross-check the details of producers, importers, brand-owners, registered plastic waste processors and brand-owners.
“In the case of a discrepancy, the lower figure would count towards fulfilling the EPR obligation for producers, importers, and brand-owners. It stated that the certificates will be subject to verification by the Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Board, or Pollution Control Committee as appropriate.
The government also requested the establishment of a centralised online portal by Central Pollution Control Board for the registration and filing of annual returns by producers.
“The CPCB online system for producers, importers, and brand-owners to register as well as file returns shall reflect the plastic packaging material that they introduced on the market in a given financial year. It will also contain details about the audit by the producers, importers, and brand-owners as a well as recyclers or any other waste processors.
The portal would serve as the central data repository for all orders and guidelines relating to EPR for plastic packaging, under the Plastic Waste Management Rule 2016, 2016.
The new rules provide that environmental compensation will be levied on the basis of polluter pays principle for producers, importers, and brand owners who fail to meet EPR targets. This is in order to protect and improve the environment and prevent, control, and reduce pollution.
“Payment for environmental compensation does not relieve producers, importers, or brand owners of the obligations outlined in these guidelines. It said that any unfulfilled EPR obligations in a given year would be carried forward to the following year for a period up to three years.
The government announced the creation of a committee under the chairmanship of the CPCB chairman. This committee will recommend measures to the ministry to implement EPR effectively, including amending the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), guidelines.
“The committee shall monitor EPR implementations and take any necessary measures to remove obstacles. It also stated that the committee would be responsible for overseeing and supervising the portal online, including the approval or pro forma of required forms.
The new guidelines require that SPCBs and PCCs submit an annual report on EPR portal pertaining to its fulfilment by producers and importers. This includes plastic packaging material manufacturers and plastic waste processors in the State/Union Territory to CPCB.
“The report shall also go to the state-level monitoring panel established under the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016. It said that the SPCB or PCC should also submit an Annual Report on Recyclers or End of Life Disposal in the State or UT to CPCB by July 31, 2016.
