How to generate and transfer EPR certificates on the centralised EPR portal and fulfil EPR by PWPs?
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notified the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules in 2016. However, the guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Plastic Packaging were introduced by the Ministry in 2022 in Schedule - II of the 4th Amendment of PWM Rules, 2016.
As per the norms of the stated guidelines, the following entities must register on the centralised portal developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) -
- (i) Producer (P)
- (ii) Importer (I)
- (iii) Brand Owner (BO)
- (iv) Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs)
involved in (a) waste to energy, (b) recycling, (c) waste to oil, and (d) industrial composting. Also, according to the EPR Guidelines, all PWPs must register with the Pollution Control Committee (PCC) or State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) on the centralised portal CPCB.
The norms PWPs must submit annual returns after the end of every financial year by 30th April of the subsequent year on the quantity of plastic waste processed category-wise according to the suggested pro forma on the portal.
Furthermore, the EPR Guidelines mandate that only the PWPs registered under PWM Rules, 2016, as amended, must submit certificates for plastic waste processing, which will be considered for the fulfilment of EPR obligations by PIBOs.
Another official said that fully committed to the Nationally-Determined Contributions and the realisation of Panchamrit as vocalised by Mr Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, Gujarat is ready to explore new means and ways, including market mechanisms to address climate change effectively.
