Plastic EPR
Plastic waste is a problem that needed to be solve on priority basis as it is harmful for the environment. To curb the problem the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change introduced the EPR i.e. extended producer responsibility registration for plastic waste management rules, 2016 EWM. The aim of the EPR registration is to make the manufacturers or producers responsible to recycle or dispose the plastic products they are introducing in the market.
Category 1: Rigid plastic packaging products from the word rigid it means the plastic that is principally manufactured from high density polyethylene. The rigid plastic includes items such as cap, bottles, containers, blister packaging etc.
Category II: Flexible plastic packaging, it is commonly available in the market and use is in abundance as it is easy to use and cost effective. This plastic is single layer or multi-layer type of plastic is used in food packaging, carrying groceries, consumer goods and various other the few examples are bread bags, carrier bags made of plastic, tissue wrap, chocolate wrappers and so on.
Category III: Multilayered plastic, in this category one layer of packaging contains plastic and other layer contains non-plastic material so that the packaging is more effective and the products packed in this category stays safe for a longer period of time. The category is used in packaging of food materials, frozen food bags, laminates etc.
Category IV: Plastic sheets or compostable plastic bags falls under the ambit of category IV both the products last long and used for various purposes. Plastic sheet is used in packaging of food that provide them long shelf lives and compostable bags is used in carrying goods from one place to another.
Producers: From the word itself it is understandable that producers need to register themselves under EPR registration. Producer here means the industries or individual who are manufacturing or producing plastics or products that needs they are packing by using plastic materials in whatever categories be it rigid, flexible or multilayered plastics.
Importers: Importer can be an individual person, company or industries that are importing the plastic product or material of plastics. It may be any kind of plastic for example plastic bags, plastic sheet, plastic wrapped in products etc.
Brand owners: Brand owners are the company or person who sells goods under a particular name. it includes all type of brands whether it is an online brand, or retailer, market place shops etc. except the entities that falls under MSME.
Plastic waste processor: recyclers are entities that used plastic waste and convert it into oil, industrial composition.
All the above-mentioned entities have to registered separately under the following categories.
Before applying for plastic EPR one should know that if they are dealing with a single state or two state than they have to do the registration under state pollution control board i.e. SPCB and if an entity is dealing with more than 2 states then they are eligible to file the EPR registration through Central pollution control board i.e. CPCB.
In case of proprietor: packaging details, pan card, GST, Import-export code, MSME if any, contact details.
In case of private limited/public limited/LLP: packaging details, GST, Import-export code, pan of authorized person, pan of entity, COI, MSME if any, contact details.
Plastic registration is mandatory for every entity that is mentioned above in the blog once you acquired the certificate, you have to follow the renewal process and complete the EPR target as per the guidelines of the ministry for smooth running of the cycle. In case of any issue or guidance connect with our experts.
Plastic waste management is the process through which plastic waste can be converted into new products that will be environment friendly and low-cost products.
On 16th February 2016 the MOEF & CC (Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change) vide 4th amendment to plastic waste management notified the guidelines in relation to EPR.
The new guidelines on EPR that has been mentioned as per the amendment of plastic waste management rules 2022, on 16th February 2022 are as follows: Fulfillment of mandatory targets on EPR, recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packing and utilization of recycled plastic content.
The produces and brand owners are fully exempted if they have MSME after the amendment of 2022 in relation to recycling, reuse and use of recycled materials for plastic packaging.
The validity for EPR plastic is for life time once you received the certificate but every year one must do the annual return filing.
Both SPCB i.e. state pollution control board and CPCB i.e. Central pollution control board are only eligible to issue certificate.
SPCB i.e. state pollution control board can provide certificate if the entity is applying for one or two states.
If the entity has applied for more than 2 states then the CPCB i.e. Central pollution control board issue the certificate for plastic EPR.
Importers, producers, brand owners and plastic waste processors are needed to obtain plastic EPR certificate in India.
There are four categories mentioned in plastic EPR i.e. category I- Rigid, category II- flexible, category III- multilayered, category IV- compostable plastic.