New Delhi:In order to fulfill the commitment to eliminate single use plastics, the Environment Ministry has published comprehensive guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPR) for plastic packaging in the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016. The guidelines on extended producer liability and the prohibition of single-use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering, were notified by the Environment Ministry. They are important steps to reduce the pollution caused in the country by littered plastic waste.
Also, read:India Committed to Eliminating Single-use Plastics, Says PM Modi at One Ocean Summit
Bhupender Yadav, Union Environment Minister, stated in a tweet that guidelines will encourage the development of new plastic alternatives and provide a roadmap to businesses for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging.
“Taking forward the clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eliminate single-use plastics, Environment Ministry has notified comprehensive guidelines on extended producers responsibility on plastic packaging,” Mr Yadav tweeted.
Following the call of PM Shri @narendramodi ji to eliminate single-use plastics, @moefccThe company has issued comprehensive guidelines on extended producer responsibility for plastic packaging.https://t.co/BtONCGnaLH
— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) February 17, 2022
Minister said that the guidelines will help to strengthen the circular economy for plastic packaging waste, encourage the development of new plastics and provide further steps to assist businesses in moving towards sustainable plastic packaging.
Mr Yadav stated that the guidelines have mandated the reuse of rigid plastic packaging material to reduce the use fresh plastic material for packaging.
Also, read:The Centre reports that India’s plastic waste generation has more than doubled in five years.
The Ministry stated that the enforceable requirement of a minimum level in plastic recycling for plastic packaging waste collected under EPR, along with the use recycled plastic content, will further reduce plastic consumption. This will support the recycling and reduction of plastic packaging waste.
The EPR guidelines will provide a boost to formalization and further development in the plastic waste management sector. The guidelines, which are a significant step forward, allow the sale and purchase excess extended producer responsibility certificates. This will create a market for plastic waste management.
A customized online platform will allow for the implementation of EPR. This platform will serve as the digital backbone of EPR. The online platform will enable companies to track and monitor EPR obligations, and it will reduce compliance burden through online registration and the filing of annual returns. It said that guidelines have established a system of audit and verification to verify that enterprises are complying with EPR obligations.
Also, read: 8 Million Tonnes of plastic waste generated by the COVID-19 Pandemic: Study
The guidelines provide a framework for the levy and payment of environmental compensation. They are based on the polluter pays principle and apply to producers, importers, and brand owners who fail to meet extended producer responsibility targets. This is done in order to protect and improve the environment and prevent, control, and abate pollution.
It also stated that the collected funds would be used for the collection, recycling, and disposal of uncollected plastics waste in an environmentally responsible manner.
These producers may allow importers and brand owners to operate schemes like deposit-refund system, buy-back, or any other model that prevents the mixing of plastic packaging with solid waste.
Also, read:These single-use plastic items will be banned starting July 1st next year
(Excepting the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff. It was published from a syndicated feed.
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