OIL EPR

Introduction

Regarding the responsibility of producers, importers and brand owners of oil products towards the after consumption of waste oil and containment and packaging of oil products a regulatory framework is adduced i.e. Oil EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility). The most desirable objective is the verification of corresponding gathering, reusing and ecologically correct dumping of used or waste oils, that can be dangerous in the environment, and also in general health. This effort is essential towards sustainable waste management and environmental protection as far as the overall trend is concerned.

With machinery, vehicles and other industrial operations, various oil products are required to operate with and this has a great role in some of the oil products are known as lubricating oil, industrial oil and a car oil. Nevertheless, they cause high environmental hazards such as contamination of soils and water in case these oils are disposed incorrectly once used. Used oil must be disposed of properly as disposing of it improperly will cause pollution, threat to human health, and destruction of natural ecosystems and it is categorized as hazardous waste.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

With regards to the disposal of the end-of-life of the oil products, the responsibility mandate granted to Oil EPR will be taken by the producers, importers and distributors. This is not only limited to sale of the product, but it is also confirmed that machineries to collect used oil, recycle and disposal of used oil in a safe manner have been put in place. Oil EPR rules apply on various categories of oil products that include the following:-

• Engine oils
• Hydraulic oils
• Transmission fluids
• Industrial oils
• Other lubricants oils

In order to guarantee adherence to the EPR laws the producers have to introduce take-back initiatives, collaborate with certified recyclers, and observe the rigorous reporting requirements.

Key Components of Oil EPR

• Collection and Recycling: If an oil producer is under the Oil EPR, then he is bound to develop network of collecting used oil by the consumers or the industries. This is usually done by establishing points of collection or arranging with professional waste collectors to assist in the process of recycling used oil.
• Environmentally Sound Disposal: The producers shall ensure there is a discarding of used oil in a manner that is not damaging to the environment. Treatment of oil waste or recycling should be made through environmentally friendly ways hence avoiding pollution.
• Cooperation: The oil producers need to cooperate with the authorized recyclers and the waste management companies to minimize the safe disposal of used oils. Recyclers prefer to clean dusty oil into consumable products or even dispose used oil in a successful interaction with the environmental laws.
• Product Design and Packaging: EPR also broadly supports this concept of design for environment, whereby the producers of the oil products and the packaging of the products are encouraged to design the products in a manner that will reduce wastage and environmental degradation. This can be done by using packaging that can be recycled or making of products whose oil change is less frequently.
• Financial Responsibility: Producers have to take the financial decisions related to a cost of getting, transporting, recycling and discarding used oil. This switches the cost of waste to the government and tax payers to the companies whom oil products are produced and sold.
• Reporting and Compliance: Companies which have to comply to Oil EPR need to periodically report their compliance efforts to the environmental enforcement authorities like the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in India or any other organization in other countries that have to bear the responsibility of the same. Failure to comply may lead to the penalty or fines, or may impede future business activities.

Importance of Oil EPR

• Environmental Protection: The primary reward of Oil EPR is the fact that it eliminates the aspect of environmental pollution. When not well disposed of, used oil may percolate in the ground or water bodies where it causes serious damage to ecosystems. EPR helps avoid such pollution by requiring that used oil should be correctly collected and recycled.
• Resource Conservation: Recycling of used oil helps to conserve a resource; this is because the extraction as well as the processing of virgin oil can be resource-demanding and environmentally polluting. Used oil can be reused through re-refining, which acts as a conservation of natural resources and decreases environmental footprint caused by producing oil.
• Public Health Protection: improper disposal of used oil has the potential of contaminating water supplies thus presenting a health hazard to both human and wildlife. This is by making used oil safe and thus safeguarding the public health with the aid of Oil EPR.
• Fostering Circular Economy: Oil EPR is consistent with circular economy values, in which products and materials are recycled and used as long as possible to retain the value of the product or material. EPR increases the life of oil products thus lessening wastes and encouraging sustainability.
• Legal, Regulations Compliance: Oil EPR is subject to the more general laws of waste management and environmental protection. Observance of these regulations contributes to the fact that the companies do not face any legal problems, fines, or reputational losses. It goes a long way in corporate responsibility and adherence to viable practice.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): The entry of Oil EPR programs enables companies to up their CSR profile By exhibiting the best practices of waste management and being a protector of the environment, a company will also enhance its reputation in the society and also build a healthy association with the society and consumers.
• Market Competitiveness: Due to the rising environmental consciousness, customers and organizations are placing more emphasis on buying the products and organizations that are sustainable. The companies which choose to comply with Oil EPR regulations thus achieve a differentiation advantage of being considered environment-sensitive in the market, an aspect that may find eco-friendly consumers and business associates.

Eligibility for Oil EPR

• Producers
  Definition: Producers are the ones who produce oil based products such as lubricants, engine and other industrial oils.
  Eligibility: Oil producers entering into the market are subject to enroll in the Oil EPR. They are charged with the responsibility of the life cycle of the entire product starting with the production up to the disposal.
• Importers
  Definition: Importers refer to businesses which import oil-products or the products that contain oil (e. g. machinery or vehicles that use oil-based components) to the country through international markets.
  Eligibility: Persons who import oil products either to resell or to use them in their manufacturing process are required to enrol in oil EPR, and they are expected to provide post-consumer management of the oils.
• Brand Owners
  Definition: Brand owners refer to the companies that sell oil products at their own brand name, whether they produce it or not.
  Eligibility: When a company is selling oil products with the brand, even though it may not actually be producing the products; however, the brand owner must ensure that he or she complies with the Oil EPR Regulations.
• Retailers and Distributors
  Definition: Distributors and retailers refer to the shops dealing with sale or distribution of oil products in a country.
  Eligibility: Some of the regulations might entail that distributors, retailers be eligible to register to Oil EPR, especially in cases where they deal with immense amounts of oil products and managing post-consumer oil wastes.
• Manufacturers of Oil Containing Products
  Definition: The companies which collect or produce goods (including automobiles, industrial machinery and electrical equipment) with oil that need oil to operate.
  Eligibility: The assemblers or manufacturers who consume considerable quantities of the oil product in their merchandise remain in the responsibility of proper disposal or recycling of used oils formed in the life cycle process of the oil used.
• Automotive and Industrial maintenance Service Providers
  Definition: Automotive service centers, industrial maintenance providers, and other entities involved in the servicing of machinery and equipment that use oils.
  Eligibility: This is complimented by the fact that in selected instances, the service providers are bound to adhere to Oil EPR requirements particularly where they produce huge volumes of reused oil when performing maintenance and repair services.
• Platforms of Electronic Commerce which Trade in Oil Products
  Definition: E-commerce platforms who are selling oil-based products (such as lubricants or automotive oils) through the Internet.
  Eligibility: In case the platform engages in selling of its branded products or even imports oil products to be sold, it could as well be subjected to Oil EPR registration.
• Waste Management and Recycling Companies
  Definition: Firms that collected, treated, recycled or disposed oil waste.
  Eligibility: These businesses may be required to be registered with the environmental authorities to give prove to meeting the environmental requirements of handling and recycling the waste oil in a responsible manner that uses the oil EPR regulations.
• Industrial Use of Oil Producers
  Definition: Businesses which manufacture oils used specifically in industrial applications (e.g. manufacturing, industrial equipment lubrication or energy generation).
  Eligibility: Industrial oil producers should make sure that the waste oil which is produced during the industrial processes should be properly collected, processed, and re-entered into the path of recycling, which means that these producers have to be registered under Oil EPR.
• Producers of Oil Packages
  Definition: Manufacturers or importers of packaging material of the oil product e.g. oil containers or barrels.
  Eligibility: As packaging is subject of EPR requirements as well, manufacturers or importers of the packaging material used in the production of oil packaging are obliged to arrange the collection and recycling of used packaging, along with the used oil.

Checklist

• Company GST certificate
• PAN card of the company
• IEC certificate
• CIN document
• TIN document
• PAN card of authorized person
• Aadhar card of authorized person
• Contact details and email id
• Procurement data and sales data