Introduction
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for waste management is a concept that has received a lot of attention. The concept, which was first introduced in 1990, is now being implemented in a variety of ways all around the world. It is strongly supported as an environmental policy method for dealing with waste streams in a sustainable manner by extending producer responsibilities to the post-consumer period of any product’s life cycle. Unlike other environmental management policy approaches that focus on pollution reduction at the factory or plant level, EPR extends liability beyond the business's boundaries. Producers, as the major actors, are made responsible for the long-term management of End-of-Life items and/or packaging. In India, there is a new EPR strategy for managing plastic packaging waste. With the notification of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, it was considered necessary. Since then, there has been a lot of analysis in terms of what the law says, what the law requires, what the ground reality allows, what stakeholders believe is realistic, and so on. Guidelines on EPR Implementation were recognized as being needed for greater understanding and ease of stakeholders.
What is extended producer responsibility Authorization?
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a term that refers to a situation in which every manufacturer of electrical or electronic equipment has an extended producer responsibility to move or shift e-waste to an approved dismantler or recycler to ensure environmentally sound waste management. It is approved and allowed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), whose primary function is to grant, renew, or deny EPR and provide EPR authorization to electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers. The EPR concept is developed to help with waste collection, recycling, and treatment.
What was the reason behind the introduction of EPR in India?
The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 are related to India's first EPR-based regulations, the Batteries (Management and Handling) Regulations, 2001, in terms of the "extended producer obligation" concept. One of the main reasons to introduction of EPR in India is "the failure of BMHR" was the lack of recent rules to reflect the role of the broad informal sector in the collection and recycling of solid trash. To solve this drawback, an EPR process was implemented, combining the informal collecting system with formal recycling and removing informal recycling units. Learn more about EPR Authorization.
Plastic Waste Flow in India
In India, plastic trash is managed in both informal and formal methods by both the public and private sectors. Plastic waste is collected in mixed form, either as part of the municipal waste stream's dry fraction/recyclable fraction or as part of the municipal waste stream's wet/biodegradable fraction. Local Bodies are responsible for providing waste management services to cities and villages. Apart from ULBs, trash management organizations (with ULB approval), kabadiwalas/scrap dealers/aggregators, and waste pickers gather rubbish through their own routes.
