EPR Registration for Plastic Waste

Overview Requirement procedure Documents Fees Sample Certificate FAQ

Introduction

EPR registration for plastic waste is a mandatory approval that Producers, Importers and Brand Owners (PIBOs) must obtain from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, before selling any product with plastic packaging in India. It is filed on CPCB’s Centralized EPR Portal (or the State PCB portal for single/two-state operations) and covers four packaging categories — rigid, flexible, multilayered and compostable.

Registration requires company KYC, product and packaging details, and payment of a slab-based application fee. Once registered, PIBOs must meet annual recycling and recycled-content targets, file annual returns, and pay a yearly processing fee to stay compliant.

What Is EPR Registration for Plastic Waste?

Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, is the principle that a company selling plastic-packaged goods stays responsible for that packaging even after it leaves the shop shelf and reaches the customer. In practice, this means every business that produces, imports, or brands products wrapped in plastic must ensure that an equivalent quantity of plastic packaging waste is collected and sent for recycling, energy recovery, or composting each year.

EPR registration for plastic waste is the formal process through which this obligation is recorded with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Once registered, a business receives a unique EPR registration number, which must also appear on product packaging through QR code or barcode labelling. Without this registration, a company is technically not permitted to introduce plastic packaging into the Indian market.

Legal Framework Governing Plastic EPR in India

Plastic EPR is governed by the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The rules have been amended several times to strengthen enforcement:

Because the rules have been revised as recently as 2026, businesses that registered under the older 2022 framework should review their category classification and recycled-content obligations to avoid gaps in compliance.

Who Needs EPR Registration for Plastic Waste?

CPCB’s EPR Guidelines require the following entities to register on the centralised portal:

PIBOs operating in one or two States/Union Territories register with the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Pollution Control Committee (PCC), while those operating in more than two States/UTs register directly with CPCB.

Understanding Plastic Packaging Categories (Category I to IV)

Every application must classify packaging correctly, since targets, fees and certificate requirements are calculated separately for each category. Misclassification is one of the most common reasons applications are objected to or delayed.

Recycled-content norms, effective from FY 2025-26 and verified against IS 14534:2023, now sit alongside the recycling targets: Category I packaging needs a minimum recycled-plastic share that rises from 30% toward 60% by 2028-29; Category II moves from roughly 10% toward 20%; Category III moves from roughly 5% toward 10%. A one-time carry-forward of up to three years is permitted for any FY 2025-26 shortfall. Because exact percentages are revised periodically, always confirm the current figures on the CPCB portal before filing your annual return.

Eligibility Criteria and Exemptions

EPR registration for plastic waste applies to nearly every business that places plastic-packaged goods on the Indian market. Two categories are exempted:

If your business is both an importer and a brand owner — for example, you import finished goods and also sell them under your own brand — you must register as a brand owner first and declare the imported packaging quantities there. Once done, your importer-side liability is set off against the same quantity, so you are not taxed twice for the same packaging.

Documents Required for EPR Registration

A complete KYC and application package speeds up CPCB/SPCB review considerably. Typical documents include:

A separate email ID is required for each sub-category if your entity registers under more than one PIBO category, though the company KYC documents remain the same across categories.

Step-by-Step EPR Registration For Plastic Waste Process

What’s New: Regulatory Updates for 2025-2026

Application Fee for PIBOs (based on plastic waste generation)

Application Fee for Plastic Waste Processors (based on production capacity)

Renewal fee is the same as the original application fee, and an Annual Processing Fee equal to 25% of the application fee is payable every year by both PIBOs and PWPs to keep the registration active.

EPR Targets, Recycled Content and Annual Returns

Your EPR target is the quantity of plastic packaging (in metric tonnes) that you introduce into the market during a financial year — this is the baseline against which your recycling obligation is calculated, category by category. You can meet this obligation by:

Certificate pricing on the CPCB portal is market-driven, with no statutory floor or ceiling — unlike the banded certificate markets for e-waste and battery waste. Annual returns declaring quantities introduced, collected and recycled are due by 30 June following the close of the obligation year, and quarterly filings are also expected on the portal.

Environmental Compensation and Penalties for Non-Compliance

A shortfall against your annual target does not go unpaid — it draws Environmental Compensation under CPCB guidelines: Rs. 5,000 per tonne for a first-year shortfall, Rs. 10,000 per tonne if the shortfall continues into a second consecutive year, and Rs. 20,000 per tonne for a third consecutive year. Paying compensation does not cancel the underlying obligation; the shortfall carries forward for up to three years, and a portion of the compensation is typically refunded once the target is eventually met.

Beyond financial compensation, sustained non-compliance can lead to:

What’s New: Regulatory Updates for 2025-2026

Benefits of Getting EPR Registration for Plastic Waste

Why Choose Silvereye Certifications for EPR Registration

Silvereye Certifications works across India’s regulatory compliance landscape — CDSCO, BIS, BEE, PESO, FSSAI, DPIIT/QCO and environmental approvals — which means your EPR registration is handled with a clear view of how it connects to your other product and import compliances. Our team manages category classification, documentation, portal filing, fee computation, and ongoing annual return support, so your business stays compliant without diverting internal resources to track every regulatory update.

Frequently Asked Questions — BIS ISI Certification

What is EPR registration for plastic waste?

It is the mandatory CPCB approval that Producers, Importers and Brand Owners must obtain under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, before introducing plastic-packaged products into the Indian market.

Who is required to register for plastic EPR?

Producers, Importers, Brand Owners (including online marketplaces and retail chains) and Plastic Waste Processors engaged in recycling, waste-to-energy, waste-to-oil or industrial composting.

Is EPR registration mandatory for small businesses?

Micro and small brand owners, as classified under MSME criteria, are exempt from the EPR obligation, though Producers and Importers generally do not get this exemption.

Where do I apply for EPR registration — CPCB or the State PCB?

If you operate in more than two States/UTs, you register with CPCB. If you operate in one or two States/UTs, you register with the concerned State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee.

What are the four plastic packaging categories under EPR?

Category I is rigid plastic packaging, Category II is flexible single or multilayer plastic packaging including carry bags and pouches, Category III is multilayered packaging combining plastic with another material, and Category IV is packaging made from certified compostable plastic.

What documents are needed for EPR registration?

Company PAN, CIN/GST, authorised signatory PAN and Aadhaar, Air and Water Act consents where applicable, product and packaging quantity details, and representative images of packaging by category.

How much does EPR registration cost?

PIBO application fees range from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000 depending on your plastic waste generation slab; Plastic Waste Processors pay Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 50,000 based on production capacity. An annual processing fee of 25% of the application fee also applies.

How long does EPR registration take?

A complete, correctly classified application is typically processed in 15 to 30 working days. Incomplete documents or portal queries can extend this to 45-60 days.

What happens if I miss my EPR recycling target?

You are liable for Environmental Compensation — Rs. 5,000 per tonne for a first-year shortfall, rising to Rs. 10,000 and then Rs. 20,000 per tonne for consecutive shortfalls, with the underlying obligation carried forward for up to three years.

Do I need to renew my EPR registration every year?

PIBOs and PWPs must pay an annual processing fee (25% of the application fee) and file annual returns each year to keep their registration active; a full renewal, at the same fee as initial registration, applies when required by CPCB or upon category changes.