Government notifies Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility on plastic packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

What is the news?

The government has notified the Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility  (EPR) on plastic packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The guidelines will come into effect from 1st July 2022.

What are the salient points mentioned in the EPR on plastic packaging?

Specify three categories of plastic packaging:

–Category I: Rigid plastic packaging; Category II: Relates to flexible plastic packaging of single layer or multilayer, Category III: Covers multi-layered plastic packaging and one of material other than plastic).

–Mandatory provisions: a) Reuse of rigid plastic packaging material to reduce the use of fresh plastic material for packaging, b) Registering with the central and state pollution control boards has also made mandatory.

-For the first time, the guidelines allow for the sale and purchase of surplus extended producer responsibility certificates. Thus setting up a market mechanism for plastic waste management.

-To ensure monitoring on fulfilment of EPR obligations, the guidelines have prescribed a system of verification and audit of enterprises.

–Levy of environmental compensation: In cases like non-fulfilment of EPR obligations, purposes such as protecting and improving the quality of the environment, a framework for levy of environmental compensation has been prescribed based upon polluter pays principle.

-Producers, importers & brand owners, may operate schemes such as deposit refund system or buy back or any other model, in order to prevent mixing of plastic packaging waste with solid waste.

Implementation: Done through a customized online platform. The platform will act as the digital backbone of the system. The online platform will allow tracking and monitoring of EPR obligation and will reduce the compliance burden for companies through online registration and filing of annual returns.

What are the advantages of the new EPR on plastic packaging?

Along with prohibition of identified single-use plastic items, the new guidelines in India will a) Reduce pollution caused due to littered plastic waste, b) Promote development of new alternatives to plastics, c) Provide a roadmap for businesses to move towards sustainable plastic packaging and d) Provide framework to strengthen circular economy of plastic packaging waste, e) Boost for formalization and further development of plastic waste management sector.

Source: This post is based on the following articles

• “Government notifies Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility on plastic packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016” published in PIB on 18th February 2022.
• “Centre notifies EPR norms for plastic packaging waste” published in India Express on 19th February 2022.