The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 amended Feb 16, 2022, notified ‘Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastic Packaging’. As per these guidelines, Producers, Importers and Brand Owners (PIBOs), i.e., any entity having operations in India that uses Plastic Packaging as part of their operations, irrespective of their turnover or scale of operations) will have to apply for EPR certification as per the nature of business it is the responsibility of Producers, Importers and Brand-owners (PIBOs) to ensure processing of their plastic packaging waste through recycling, re-use or end of life disposal (such as co-processing/Waste-to-energy/Plasticto-oil/roadmaking/industrial-composting).
PIBOs are required to ensure that plastic waste is processed through Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs) in accordance with an action plan in order to meet assigned EPR targets. They shall obtain a PWP certificate based on the amount of plastic waste processed by PWPs and use these certificates to meet their EPR targets. If any PIBO fails to comply with PWM rules, environmental compensation will be imposed, as well as disciplinary action.
PIBOs that operate in one or two states/UTs are required to register with the concerned State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB/PCC). PIBOs that operate in more than two states/UTs are required to register with CPCB.
Registration granted to PIBOs does not require renewal and shall be changed on their request only as per the amendment dated 27th April 2023.
Extended Producer Responsibility shall be applicable to both pre-consumer and post-consumer plastic packaging waste.
For entities falling in more than one sub-category separate registration under each of those sub-categories is required. If the entity has units in different states, in a sub-category, then these units shall also be registered separately. However, only one registration under a subcategory in a state would be needed, even if, more than one unit are in a state.
India Compliance & Testing Laboratories, an experienced Waste Management consultant firm are here to help you in obtaining Waste Management certification with simplicity. Our expert Waste Management consultants will assist you at every step from product evaluation to extensive documentation for the Waste Management certification.
Our extensive reach with Recyclers/Refurbishers across the country will enable you to ensure that your targets/obligations for Plastic Waste are completed in defined timelines and within budget.