The number of registered Producers, Importers, and Brand owners (PIBOs) for different waste streams covered under extended producer responsibility are given below.

 

The waste processers for plastic packaging, E-waste, battery waste, waste tyre and used oil are verified by State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees before their registration under EPR regime. Further, the EPR Guidelines of plastic packaging allow CPCB/SPCB/PCC to undertake audit of PIBOs and Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs). EPR certificates are uploaded by recyclers at respective centralized online EPR portals.

There is provision under the rules for conducting inspection and periodic audit of PIBOs by CPCB or through designated agency. Further, compliance of PWPs is verified by CPCB through inspection and periodic audit. In case of PWPs and PIBOs operating in a State or Union Territory, CPCB may, if required, direct SPCB or PCC to take action.

Further, accurate reporting of plastic waste generation is ensured through filing of annual returns by PIBOs which mandates them to report the procurement of packaging raw material and plastic packaging sold. 

EPR relies on market-based mechanism, wherein recyclers develop their own mechanism for sourcing the waste from agencies involved in waste collection including informal waste collectors and the EPR certificates generated by them after recycling, are purchased by the obligated entities i.e. PIBOs.

The role of urban local bodies has been provided under EPR guidelines. The certificate for plastic packaging waste provided by registered plastic waste processors can be issued to Local authorities based upon agreed modalities. Local authorities, in turn, may trade EPR certificates with the PIBOs for fulfilment of their EPR obligations.

PIBOs while fulfilling their EPR obligation may develop collection and segregation infrastructure of plastic packaging waste based on the category of plastics, which may include different implementation modalities.

PIBOs, to fulfill the EPR obligations, may offer collection of plastic, from the entities like urban local bodies, gram panchayats, other public authorities or third parties carrying out waste management and provide for the collection from all entities that have made use of that offer. Further, PIBOs may provide necessary practical arrangement for collection and transport under the EPR guidelines.

EPR regulations recognize the registered recyclers through which EPR certificates are generated and used for fulfillment of obligations of PIBOs which encourages formalization of informal waste management sector. 

The obligation of minimum level of recycling of plastic packaging waste, E waste, battery waste, waste tyre and used oil envisages strengthening of the waste management sector through involvement of both formal/informal sector. The local authorities can participate under the EPR regime of plastic packaging as per EPR Guidelines on plastic packaging.

Further, the EPR Guidelines also promote sustainable plastic packaging including increasing recyclability of plastic packaging. In order to increase transparency, already there are functional centralized EPR portals for plastic packaging, E-waste, battery waste, waste tyre and used oil. The EPR target of PIBOs and availability of EPR certificates generated by registered waste processors, is available in public domain on the dashboard of Centralized EPR portals.

The Central Pollution Control Board had conducted random audit of registered plastic waste processors, as per Guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility on plastic packaging. Irregularities were observed during the random audit of plastic waste processors. Accordingly, CPCB had issued directions dated 26.10.2023 to concerned SPCBs to levy Environmental Compensation (EC) corresponding to the quantum of EPR certificates generated not in conformity with the stipulated requirements and also to take necessary actions, as per applicable law, against the violating Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs). Directions were also issued to all SPCBs / PCCs to take necessary action and ensure that the EPR certificates generated by PWPs are in accordance with the stipulated requirements and take the necessary actions as per applicable law against the violating PWPs.

The waste management rules on plastic packaging, E-waste, battery waste, used oil as well as waste tyre having EPR, provide for constitution of a Steering/ Implementation Committee, under respective waste management rules, to oversee the implementation of EPR and remove difficulties, as required.

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

 

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