What is EPR in plastic waste management?
It is estimated that India creates 25,000 tons of waste plastic every single day. Because of this, plastic is beginning to make its way into the food chain. This can affect human hormones and lead to deadly diseases. As a result, governments must take action and strictly enforce existing laws to tackle this situation. Because of this, the government introduced the concept of "Extended Producer Responsibility" (EPR) in the rules for the management of plastic waste in 2016.
EPR is the responsibility put on a producer to ensure that an ecologically friendly approach is taken to the management of a product throughout its entire life.
What is plastic packaging?
The term "plastic packaging" refers to any type of packaging material that is manufactured by using plastics to protect, preserve, store, and transport things in a variety of ways.
Procedure
Registration for plastic waste management can be done online.
Registration of the company should be done in the specific category.
uploading the necessary documents on the portal.
Apply to the relevant department.
Proper follow-up with the concerned departments.
If government officials decide that the application and related documents are good enough, the license or certificate will be granted.
Categories of plastic Packaging
The following plastic packaging categories are covered under Extended Producer Responsibility:-
(i) Category I: Rigid plastic packaging.
(ii) Category II: Flexible plastic packaging refers to a single layer or multiple layers (more than one layer made up of different types of plastic), plastic sheets or similar materials, and coverings made of plastic sheeting, carry bags, plastic sachets, or pouches.
(iii) Category III: Multilayered plastic packaging (at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material other than plastic).
(iv) Category IV: Plastic sheet or similar used for packaging as well as carry bags made of compostable plastic.
Applicability
The extended producer responsibility guidelines will apply to the following entities:-
(i) Producer (P) of plastic packaging: A person or business that makes or imports carry bags, multilayered packaging, plastic sheets, or similar items. This includes businesses or individuals who use plastic sheets, similar items, or covers made of plastic sheets or multilayered packaging to package or wrap goods.
(ii) Importer (I): It consists of an individual who imports a product or products with plastic packaging, such as carry bags, multilayered packaging, plastic sheets, or the like.
(iii) Brand Owners (BO): It comprises of a person or company who sells any commodity under a registered brand label or trade mark.
(iv) Plastic Trash Processors: These refer to the recyclers and entities involved in converting plastic waste to energy (waste to energy) and oil (oil waste), as well as industrial composting.
PIBO(s)
The producers should come up with a way to waste collection system based on Extended Producers Responsibility within six months from the date of publication of the rules and using the State Urban Development Departments' channels of distribution or those of the relevant local authority;
Every manufacturer is required to keep a record of the names of every individual involved in the supply of plastic that is used as a raw material in the production of carrying bags or plastic sheets or other similar products, as well as covers made of plastic sheets or multi-layered packaging.
Targets for EPR
The targets of all the PIBOs (Producer, Importer, and Brand Owner) are determined category-wise.
The extended producer responsibility target: The Extended Producer Responsibility target in Metric ton (MT) category-wise, as applicable, shall be provided by PIBOs, (Producer, Importer, and Brand Owners as part of the Action Plan on the centralized portal developed by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Obligation for recycling: The PIBOs shall ensure a minimum level of recycling (excluding end-of-life disposal) of plastic packaging waste collected under the Extended Producer Responsibility Target, category-wise.
End-of-life disposal: Only those plastics, which cannot be recycled 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 the Indian Road Congress or Central Pollution Control Board from time to time.
Rule 5 (1)(b) of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 says that producers must make sure that plastic packaging waste is thrown away only in the ways that are listed.
Local governments should motivate the use of plastic waste (especially plastic waste that can't be recycled any further) for road building, as per guidelines from the Indian Road Congress, or for energy recovery, turning trash into oil, etc. The rules and standards for controlling pollution set by.
Marking or labeling
It is required that the following information be printed in English on every plastic carry bag and multi-layered packaging item:-
1. In the case of a carry bag, the name of the maker, their registration number, and the thickness should be included.
2. In the case of multi-layered packaging, the manufacturer's name and registration number should be included.
3. In the case of carrying bags made from reusable plastic, a name and certification number are required.