EPR FOR PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

WHAT EXACTLY IS PLASTIC WASTE?

Plastic waste has become a global threat. We have used plastic vigorously in our daily use due to its versatile, long-lasting, and durable properties. We can say that knowing its effects we cannot avoid its use. The habit of using it daily in our life we forget that these things need to be recycled. The accumulation of these materials has now caused a world-wide environmental issue, concerning individual’s health at large. With this our land is no more capable to bare the load of more waste. As a consumer it is our responsibility or duty to make awareness about it.

Government also has an eye on this rising cause and to tackle the cause the CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) came with a rule that all the manufacturers, retailers, brand owners must apply for the EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) certificate under the PWM (Plastic Waste Management) rules, 2016. If any of them is bringing plastic to the market. Central pollution control board as per the new guidelines also says that any firm which is involved in plastic packaging regardless to their turnover must apply for an extended producer responsibility (EPR) for the plastic waste they brought to the market.

Impact of plastic waste

With the use of plastic as a daily need has brought various problems to our ecosystem which is not noticeable. According to some sources about 1 million water bottles are purchased in every minuet which we consume and not even bother to destroy or reuse it. These small things have led to various problems to our ecosystem and human life. Let us talk about these problems.

• Plastic pollution reduces our waterways’ recreational and aesthetic value, interferes with navigation, and disrupts commercial and recreational fishing. Microplastics also pose a risk to human health.
• The most common threats from plastic to wildlife are ingestion of contaminants and entanglement. When the animals consume plastic particles, the particles can cause the organ damage and pass chemicals into the bloodstream.
• When pollution accumulates in the environment, it alters the habitat structure, reduces the light levels, and depletes the dissolved oxygen supply present in the atmosphere. Studies have shown that plastic can adsorb chemicals and transport these chemicals into the food chain.
• The plastic present in the soil mix up and the plastic waste component end up in the food chain which is at the end is consumed by humans leads to illness and fall in the average testosterone.
• Burning of plastic results into formation of a class of flame retardants called as Halogens. Collectively, these harmful chemicals are known to cause the following severe health problems: cancer, endometriosis, neurological damage, endocrine disruption, birth defects and child developmental disorders, reproductive damage, immune damage, asthma, and multiple organ damage.

WHY IT IS REQUIRED

When someone comes with a solution it has its own advantages. When the CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) came with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) it had a positive impact on the environment and the need to bring EPR for plastic waste management was a crucial step and if we talk about its need and importance, it could be defined as

• PRACTISING RE-USED PRODUCT : With a full proof EPR plan the companies are nowadays are moving toward re-using the plastic they have recycled. Thus, it helps the companies in cost cutting by not always depending on fresh raw material
• SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT : With the introduction of EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) the companies are nowadays are using the best way to reduce the plastic waste they are generating. The companies are using those methods that effect the nature at a nominal amount
• WASTE SUPPLY CHAIN AND MANAGEMENT : With the proper management of the waste the companies are now treating their waste as a proper concern. Rather than disposing it in the rivers etc. now they are treating it properly which helps us to improve the supply chain. EPR has helped the management in the field of cost cutting and sustainability
• ADAPTING RECYCLABLE PRODUCT DESIGN : With the EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) now the companies are now investing in the product that can be easily recycled rather than investing in complex designs now they are investing in simple and elegant designs that can be accepted by the people. This helps in awaring the buyers about waste management.

WHO SHOULD GET AN EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)

Before knowing how to get an EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) one should know who should get an EPR. The EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) has entrusted the plastic waste management with the PIBOs (producers’ importers & brand owners) those are responsible for the sale of plastic goods in the market.

• PRODUCERS : Any entity or a company who produces plastic bags, rigid type of plastic, or any kind of plastic they use for packaging must apply for EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility).
• IMPORTERS : Any entity or a company who imports plastic products or import plastic packed products must apply for an EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)
• BRANDOWNERS : Any company or an entity who sells plastic products or import goods under the name of a specific brand must apply for an EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility).

CATEGORIES OF PLASTIC WASTE

• CAT I : Rigid Plastic which includes PET bottles.
• CAT II : Flexible Plastic which includes flexible plastic packaging.
• CAT III : Multilayer plastic which includes plastics used in FMCG packaging.
• CAT IV : Biodegradable and Compostable Plastic.

ROLE OF PIBOs UNDER EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)

Under the authorisation of EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) rather than the plastic waste management, PIBOs (producers’ importers & brand owners) are entrusted some basic roles that they must maintain in a particular manner

• PROMOTION : The company who is under EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) shall also promote the concept of waste management among the other small companies to reduce the waste generated by them
• CERTIFICATES : Register companies under EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) must have all the certificates provided to them and should have a copy of them.
• LABELING : The next role is PIBOs (Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners) must label the waste generated by them with the proper recycling details.
• COLLECTION : The companies must collect the end-of-life products from the market which means those products are at the end of their lifecycle and no further usefulness to it
• DIRECTING : One of the roles of the companies registered under EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) is that they must direct the waste for example they have to direct either the waste is to be send to recycling, refurbishing, treatment, storage, or disposal facilities
• EPR TARGETS : The company under EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) must fulfil their EPR targets on an early basis so that they do not have to face penalty.
• ANNUAL RETURNS : The companies registered under EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) have to file an annual return before the due dates.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) AUTHORISATION

To register for EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) a company must provide with some important documents

• PAN, GST, CIN : PAN (Permanent account number), GST (Goods and Services Tax), CIN (Certificate Of Incorporation) of the authorised company.
• IEC CERTIFICATE : IEC (Import and Export Code) OF the applicant importer
• AADHAR / PAN OF AUTHORIZED PERSON : Aadhar and Pan of the authorized signatory
• DIC REGISTRATION : DIC (District industries Centre) if the company is register to DIC they must upload the Documents
• PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAMS : A process flow diagram is a diagram indicates the general flow of plant process and equipment
• CONSENT ISSUED BY SPCB/PCC : Before establishing their factory, the applicant must apply for the CFE (Consent For Establishment) from SPCB (State Pollution Control Board) with all relevant documents.
• COVER LETTERS : A cover letter for industry has four sections – An “Introduction”, The “Sell”, “Motivation”, and the “Close”.
• GEO TAGGED PICTURES : Pictures of raw material storage area, production area, product dispatch area, and plant machinery.
• INVOICE : Company is required to submit the invoice of all the waste generated from the last financial year.

PROCESS OR STEPS FOR EPR FOR PLASTIC MANAGEMENT REGISTRATION

The process or we can say the steps for a successful EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) authorisation, the company can individually apply for the EPR or they can collectively apply through a channel partner PRO (Producers Responsibility organization).

• DOCUMENTATION : Company should have a copy of all the necessary documents required for registration on hand in the form of pdf, jpg, or png before complete the application.
• LOGIN CREDENTIALS : The process of application begins with the self-registration on the centralized portal provided to obtain the required login credentials.
• APPLICATION FEES : After the submission of the required document the applicant is left with the submission of the application fees. A gateway is generated at the end where the applicant is required to pay the fees online through various methods. The application fees are variable as it depends upon the size of the waste generated by the company.
• APPLICATION PROCESSING : The application submitted by the PIBOs (producers’ importers & brand owners) is then transferred to the CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board). if the application is needed to be sent to the SPCB/PCC it is done on the same site if they operate in one or two states.
• GRANT OF EPR : After the successful registration of the application, it takes about 15 days by the authorized personal to process it. If the application submitted by the applicant is incorrect the registration must be denied. If the information is correct the PIBOs (producers’ importers & brand owners) will be provided by the EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) registration certificate from CPCB/SPCB/PCC.