How EPR Is Shaping The Future Of Plastic Waste Management?

By 2050, the amount of plastic being manufactured globally is expected to increase almost four times. The surge in plastic production is bound to maximize plastic leakage in the environment and increase CO2 emissions. But why is it a concern?

Plastic is a non-biodegradable element which means it takes decades to break down. This plastic ends up accumulating in waterways, oceans, and landfills and harms wildlife, the natural ecosystem, and its inhabitants. It potentially enters the food chain in the form of tiny microplastics and poses potential risks to human health. Further, it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbates the situation of climate change.

Extended Producer Responsibility is institutionalized to mitigate these risks and create an effective system for plastic waste management. Let’s take a brief look at the Plastic waste EPR certificate process, how it helps in waste management, the role of stakeholders, and instruments that enable smoother implementation of the framework.

EPR Certification Process: Step-By-Step Guide

The role of EPR in Sustainable Plastic Waste Management extends beyond just delegating the responsibility of waste management to producers from the government but also incentivizes producers to design their products that minimize their environmental footprint. Every producer, importer, and brand owner is mandated to acquire Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) authorization from the centralised EPR portal of the Central Pollution Control Board. The procedure for registration is as follows:
● Register on the CPCB’s centralized online EPR portal.
● Prepare all the requested documents.
● Select the appropriate category – whether you are a producer, importer, brand owner, or plastic waste processor.
● Provide an action plan for implementation of EPR for Plastic Waste Management.
● Pay the application fees.
● Wait for verification of the submitted documents and information.
● If the certificate is approved, EPR authorization is granted within a few days.
● If the CPCB rejects the application, the applicant receives one month to rectify or provide additional information before final rejection.

How Does EPR Help in Effective Plastic Waste Management?

Upon completion of the Plastic Waste EPR Certificate Process, Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) have to submit all the requested documents, ensure that they are adhering to every waste management protocol, and periodically report their waste management activities through annual report submissions. Thus, EPR lays down clear guidelines for plastic waste segregation, collection, transportation, recycling, and disposal. It enables effective management of plastic waste in the following ways:
● Promote Circular Economy: Circular economy is a strategic model of production and consumption that encourages reuse, repair, and recycling of products. It serves as a crucial instrument in tackling global crises like climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The circular economy in EPR motivates manufacturers to redesign their products and use fewer raw materials. It keeps plastic for longer in the loop of production and improves resource productivity.
● Boost Recycling:  The Importance Of EPR In Reducing Plastic Waste Pollution can be highlighted by the growing innovation in the realm of plastic waste disposal and treatment. EPR has boosted the growth of recycling infrastructure. PIBOs are actively collaborating with recyclers, local collection agencies, and waste management firms which has led to advancement in recycling technologies and establishment of material recovery facilities. 
● Empower Informal Sector: The informal sector in developing nations, especially India, constitutes a significant portion of the workforce. The government has actively attempted to integrate this economy to spearhead plastic waste management with full force. Thus, EPR policies motivate the integration of rag pickers, waste pickers, and small-scale recyclers into the formal system. 
● Foster Growth and Innovation: EPR has been a catalyst in promoting innovation and technology-backed system usage in plastic waste management. Digital platforms and tools are being used to track and collect plastic waste, meet recycling targets, and monitor the actions of the PIBOs under the EPR framework. These tools are helping to increase transparency within the system and enhance efficiency in meeting other regulatory requirements.

Role of Stakeholder in Extended Producer Responsibility

Engaging with stakeholders in the EPR ecosystem, after the Plastic waste EPR certificate process completion, is extremely important. It facilitates collaboration among local communities, government agencies, NGOs, and waste management agencies to come together and enable smooth implementation of EPR. The following stakeholders are available in the EPR landscape and play these respective roles:
● National Government: The sovereign authority is responsible for setting the legislative and policy framework and EPR Plastic Waste Rules and Penalties: What Every Business Should Know. It defines the concerned producers and products and specifies the responsibilities of these producers. For instance, they must adhere to targets like minimum quantity of take-back, collection and recycling targets, etc. The central government also provide accreditation and ensures that it is being enforced properly. It also takes steps to combat illegal imports of plastic.
● Local Municipalities: Such entities are typically responsible for the collection of plastic waste from businesses and households. It also provides key information on several aspects of EPR to the public.
● PIBOs (Producers, Importers, Brand Owners): PIBOs are the ones who are expected to meet the targets set by the government. They enter into a liaison with other stakeholders and set up a waste collection network, and recycling system, and implement a take-back system of waste packaging.
● Waste Management Companies: These companies enter into contracts with Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), local municipalities, or individual producers to facilitate the collection and management of plastic waste. In return, they receive funds for handling the waste.
● Informal Sector: Entities involved in this sector are rag pickers, small-scale recyclers, scrap dealers, waste pickers, etc. The government has been trying to integrate this sector into the formal EPR landscape, to allow them to contribute to the effective collection and recycling of plastic waste.
● Consumers or Households: The only responsibility of consumers is to return the plastic products once it reaches it end of useful life or stage where it is going to be discarded. They return it through the infrastructure provided to them.

What are the Instruments in EPR Worldwide?

As per the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), there are four major types of EPR instruments, which provide a deep insight into Understanding the Scope of EPR for Plastic Packaging Waste. These instruments are designed to shift the responsibility of product end-of-life management to manufacturers and producers from the government and consumers. Producers can obtain EPR authorization after going through a Plastic waste EPR certificate process and can use any of below mentioned instruments to increase the chances of compliance with the norms:
● Take-Back Program: Take-back program in EPR refers to a system where producers ‘take back’ or collect their plastic products from consumers at the end of their life cycle or when it is no longer in use. These enable producers to increase their recycling rates and meet EPR targets under the respective framework. It is done in the following manner:
1. Producers ought to set up a plastic waste collection system by partnering with producer responsibility organizations (PROs), or any other plastic waste collection units.
2. Producers can also opt for a voluntary take-back program.
3. Incentives can be used to encourage consumers to return plastic products to distributors or at designated collection points.

● Market-Based Instruments: These instruments use financial incentives to increase the saturation of the EPR program. Such incentives are also categorized into the following categories:

1. Advanced Disposal Fees (ADF): These fees are collected at the time of purchase by the consumers. The fee amount is determined by how much costs would be incurred in the plastic waste collection and treatment. Thus, ADF is a technique where the amount used for disposal is added to the cost of a product, enabling smoother implementation of recycling programs. This Strategic Approaches to EPR Waste Compliance for Plastic Waste play a pivotal role in motivating promoters to use recycled plastic to keep the product’s prices in check.

2. Deposit Refund: It makes consumers liable to pay a deposit while buying the product which is later refunded when they deposit the product to a retailer at a designated location or to producers.

3. Material Tax: Plastic manufacturers who use virgin, hazardous materials, or difficult-to-recycle plastic are made liable to pay material tax. This encourages them to use less harmful and easily recyclable raw materials.

● Information-Based Instruments: Such instruments increase public awareness about the EPR programs and indirectly increase their implementation. This may include labelling products to show the environmental attributes, notifying recyclers about the used materials, and communicating with consumers about waste separation and EPR responsibilities.

● Performance Standard and Regulations: Some nations may opt for this mechanism which requires them to achieve a minimum percentage of recycled plastic in their products. This will increase the implementation of take-back initiatives, product re-design, and recycling and disposal of end-of-life plastic products.

Understand How to Meet EPR Targets and Manage Plastic Waste Effectively, because compliance is what will help you avoid entering into any legal and financial troubles. Avail the benefits of our services that are the one-stop solution to all the EPR requirements.

Final Thoughts

EPR has enabled governments to solve a multitude of issues where EPR rules and penalties have been a catalyst in the gradual transition to a circular economy. Achievements of EPR for proper plastic waste disposal are evident through the expansion of collection mechanisms and the rise in the production of more resource-efficient plastic products.

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