EPR Registration for Plastic Waste Management:

EPR Registration for Plastic Waste/Plastic products have become an indispensable part of our daily lives, with production occurring on a massive scale globally. In India alone, approximately 5.6 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated annually, presenting a significant disposal challenge. While recycling offers a viable solution to reuse plastic products, finding sustainable methods to reduce plastic usage is imperative.

To address the management of plastic packaging waste, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime is being implemented under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. According to these rules, Producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs) are tasked with ensuring that their plastic packaging waste is processed through recycling, reuse, or end-of-life disposal.

PIBOs, encompassing producers, importers, and brand owners, are obligated under the EPR regime if they utilize plastic packaging in their operations in India, irrespective of their turnover or scale of operations.

The implementation of EPR Registration for Plastic Waste Management aims to enhance accountability and sustainability in plastic waste management, contributing to a cleaner and greener environment.

What is EPR Authorization?

In this period where environmental considerations are increasingly central, tackling the waste management problem is a critical step towards building a sustainable future. 

EPR authorization is an important part of this ecosystem, we will explore what it means and why it is necessary. An Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) permit is a license issued by the Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) to manufacturers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs) of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). The EPR Authorization is mandatory and issued for the ecological treatment of generated electronic waste. Industrialized countries are implementing the EPR legislative strategy to promote and encourage the reuse, recycling, and ecological disposal of e-waste. Extended producer responsibility ensures that the responsibility for the disposal of e-waste lies with the producer of the goods. Under EPR programs, manufacturers and importers are legally responsible for the collection, recycling, and safe disposal of their products at the end of their useful life. The permitting process usually involves obtaining approval from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or relevant national pollution control agencies, which define specific goals and deadlines for waste management and recycling. The EPR permit is an important part of India's efforts to meet its waste management challenges, promote recycling, and reduce the burden on landfills and the environment. This is in line with the country's broader goals of sustainability and a cleaner environment.

Outline of EPR Registration for Plastic Waste Management

Extended Producer Responsibility applies to any organisation that introduces plastic packaging to the consumer market. The entity must handle plastic packaging till its end of life by applying EPR in an ecologically responsible way.The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) outlines in the Plastic Waste Amendment Rules 2022 how the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) awards EPR Authorizations to producers, importers, brands owners (PIBO), and plastic waste processors for recycling and other activities (waste to energy, waste to oil, and industrial composting).

To encourage the reuse, recycling, and end-of-life disposal of recycled plastic, EPR Authorization must be complied with by all organisations that produce pre- and post-consumer plastic packaging waste. It is important to register with the CPCB and SPCB. PIBOs operating in more than two states or UTs must register with CPCB.  An EPR Registration for plastic waste management is required before manufacturing can start. According to the most recent requirements outlined in the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) (Amendment) Rules, 2022, a PIBO is required to submit Form I and an Action Plan considered suitable under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, and to satisfy all prerequisites.

Types of EPR Certification

1. EPR Registration for Plastic Waste Management
2. EPR Registration for E-Waste Management
3. EPR Registration for Battery Waste Management
4. EPR Registration for Tyres Waste Management
5. EPR Registration for Used Oil Management

Liability Imposed On

The following organisations must register with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the website in order to comply with India’s plastic waste management EPR provisions-

1. Packaging producer P(Producer)
2. Plastic packaging importer I(Importer)
3. Other than micro and small businesses, BO (Brand Owners)
4. Processors of plastic waste engaged in-

• Recyclables
• Energy from waste
• Oil from waste
• Composting in industry

Categories of Plastic Packaging Covered Under EPR:

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) encompasses the following categories of plastic packaging:

Category I: Rigid plastic packaging

Category II: Single-layer or multilayer flexible plastic packaging, including plastic sheets, covers, carry bags, sachets, or pouches

Category III: Multi-layered plastic packaging, consisting of at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material other than plastic

Category IV: Plastic sheets or similar materials used for packaging, along with compostable plastic carry bags

These categories aim to ensure comprehensive coverage of various types of plastic packaging, fostering responsible management and disposal practices to mitigate environmental impact.

Documents Required For Epr Registration Of Pibos/pwps

1. PAN, GST, CIN,
2. IEC (for importer) of the Company
3. Aadhar / PAN of Authorized person
4. DIC Registration (if the unit is registered with DIC)
5. Process flow diagrams (for producers & PWPs only)
6. Consents issued by SPCB/PCC (if the unit has a production facility)
7. Scanned copy of signatures of authorized persons.
8. Covering letter
9. Geo-tagged pictures of raw material storage area, production area, product dispatch area, and plant machinery (in case of PWPs only)
10. Documents regarding any other information that the unit wishes to provide.

Process Of Epr Registration For Pibos/pwps

To obtain EPR for Plastic Waste Management, PIBOs shall submit an online application along with the necessary information, documents, and application fees.

The process of EPR Registration are as follows:

1. Documentation: Before filling out the application form, make sure you have a copy of the all-relevant documents in pdf, jpg, or png file formats on hand.
2. Registration for login credentials: The application process begins with self-registration on the centralized portal to obtain login credentials, followed by application filling.
3. Submission of application: After self-registration, the Applicant will receive credentials for login to file the Application form. Separate application pages have been designed for Producers, Brand owners, and Importers. The Applicant shall fill section-wise information and upload all relevant documents for EPR Registration.
4. Submission of application fee: The Applicant shall pay the application fees along with the application for Registration. The fees shall be paid online using the payment gateway integrated on the portal.
5. Processing of application: If the PIBOs operate in one or two states, Online applications filed by PIBOs will be transferred to the concerned SPCBs/PCCs on the same portal for further processing. CPCB will process the remaining applications.
6. Grant of EPR Registration: The registration application shall be processed within 15 days by authorized officials for grant of EPR registration. If false information/documents are found to have been submitted, applications will be rejected. If application is deemed to be complete, CPCB/SPCB/PCC will issue EPR registration certificates to PIBOs using a digital signature integrated into the portal.

Responsibilities after Registration

The following are some responsibilities for PIBOs utilising plastic packaging-

• Establishing a profile on the centralised EPR portal run by the CPCB.
• Sending the Plastic Waste Management EPR Action Plan
• Recycling of plastic waste
• Utilising recycled materials in production
• Utilising recycled plastics in manufacturing
• Getting rid of outdated items
• Plastics recovery and collection with the ability to work with PROs
• Filing yearly CPCB reports after completion
• Cite your certification documentation (Plastic credits)

EPR Registration for Plastics Waste Management fees to be paid by PIBO/PWP are as given below:

A) Application fees for EPR registration of PIBOs

B) Application fees for EPR Registration of PWPs

C) EPR Renewal fees: Renewal fees shall be the same as the initial registration fee of EPR.

D) Annual processing Fees: Annual Processing Fees shall be 25% of Application Fees of EPR

Validity, Renewal & Cancellation of EPR Registration

• A new registration shall be valid for one year, and a renewed registration shall be valid for three years.
• PIBO shall submit the renewal application, along with the required documents, four months before the expiry of the Registration.
• EPR Plastic waste registration granted to PIBOs may be cancelled or suspended at any time if the document submitted by the PIBO is found to be false.

Conclusion:

At last, if your plastic product is covered under EPR, you shall have to register through the centralized online EPR portal of CPCB. A plastic waste management registration certificate (EPR Registration) from CPCB is required for manufacturers, importers, brand owners, and plastic waste processors of plastic packaging.

PIBOs and PWPs may not conduct business unless they obtain EPR registration for plastic waste management from CPCB. Plastic waste management registration can be obtained by submitting an application through the CPCB's centralized EPR portal.

To know more about the EPR Registration for plastic waste management and to run your business smoothly, contact at +91 8076998788, contact@brlindia.com for free consultation. We will meet your expectations by providing quick and efficient EPR Registration services for plastic waste management. Our experts will assist you in obtaining an EPR Registration certificate on time by guiding you through each step of the process.