| Introduction: Contextual Introduction Body: Current state of plastic management in India & role of EPR in waste management Conclusion: Way forward |
India faces a significant plastic waste management challenge. According to a 2020-21 report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the country generates four million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Unfortunately, only about a quarter of this waste is recycled or treated, while the rest ends up in landfills or is disposed of unsustainably. This poses serious environmental and health risks, necessitating effective management strategies.
Challenges
- Massive plastic waste generation: India produces millions of tonnes of plastic waste annually, with a large portion ending up in landfills or littering the environment.
- Informal recycling sector: A significant part of recycling is handled by the informal sector, often leading to suboptimal practices and environmental concerns.
- Lack of infrastructure: Inadequate waste management infrastructure, especially in rural areas, hampers effective collection and disposal.
- Limited awareness: Public awareness about the harmful effects of plastic waste and proper disposal methods remains a challenge.
Role and Effectiveness of EPR in India
- Definition and Objectives: EPR is a policy approach that makes producers responsible for the lifecycle management of their products, particularly for the take-back, recycling, and disposal of post-consumer waste. In India, the Plastic Waste Management Rules of 2016 mandate users of plastics to collect and recycle their waste.
- Incentivizes recycling: By making producers accountable for waste management, EPR encourages them to adopt eco-friendly packaging designs and promote recycling.
- Improves waste collection: Producers are incentivized to invest in waste collection systems to meet their EPR targets.
- Promotes circular economy: EPR fosters a circular economy by reducing plastic waste and maximizing resource utilization.
- Challenges: Approximately 600,000 of the recycling certificates were found to be fraudulent, and hackers reportedly stole several thousand certificates, selling them to companies. This undermines the credibility of the system.
- Legal and Operational Hurdles: The CPCB can impose heavy fines for non-compliance, but the process is lengthy and legally complex, reducing the deterrent effect of penalties.
Conclusion
The EPR system in India has the potential to significantly address the plastic waste problem by making producers accountable for the lifecycle of their products. EPR is a crucial step forward, but its successful implementation depends on strong enforcement, collaboration between government, industry, and civil society, and increased public awareness.
