EPR Registration or EPR Authorization or CPCB Registration for Plastic Waste refers to the responsibility of importers, producers and brand owners (PIBO’S) to manage the disposal of products post use. It is a kind of reverse collection system ensuring recycling for end of life, post consumer waste. EPR for plastic waste is based on the famous and important international environmental law principle of Polluter Pays, which implies that the one who pollutes must pay for keeping the environment clean and intact.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF &CC) announced Plastic Waste Amendment Rules 2022 and laid down instructions for EPR Authorization given by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, require plastic waste generators to take steps to reduce plastic waste generation, not litter plastic waste, ensure segregated waste storage at the source, and pass over sorted waste to local bodies or entities that have been authorized by local bodies Local governments, gram panchayats, waste generators, retailers, and street sellers all have roles and obligations in the management of plastic waste, according to the rules.
According to the PWM Rules, the PIBOs who introduce the products into the market bear Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) for the management of plastic waste packaging. They must collaborate with local governments to develop a system for managing the plastic waste generated by their products. Local governments are responsible for establishing the PWM system, with assistance from producers and brand owners.
Furthermore, PIBOs operating in more than two states must register with the CPCB, while those operating in one or two states must register with the relevant SPCB/PCC. To obtain registration, an EPR Action Plan for PWM must be submitted.
APPLICABILITY:
The following Entities shall register on the centralized portal developed by CPCB:
- Producer (P)
- Importer (I)
- Brand owner (BO)
- PlasticWaste Processor engaged in (a) recycling, (b) waste to energy, (c) waste to oil, and(d) industrial composting.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR EPR REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE:
i) Copy of Company’s PAN, Certificate of Incorporation (COI) & GST Certificate
ii) Copy of Authorized person’s PAN & Aadhar.
Note: Proprietorship and partnership firms shall provide PAN and GST Certificate. COI is applicable for the companies registered with MCA.
CATEGORIES OF PLASTIC PACKAGING REQUIRING EPR REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE:
The following plastic packaging categories are covered under EPR certificate norms:
Category I: Rigid plastic packaging
Category II: Flexible plastic packaging of single layer or multilayer (more than one layer with different types of plastic), plastic sheets or like and covers made of plasticsheet, carry bags, plastic sachet or pouches.
Category III: Multilayered plastic packaging (at least one layer of plastic and at leastone layer of material other than plastic)
Category IV: Plastic sheet or like used for packaging as well as carry bags made ofcompostable plastics
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1.What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Authorization?
EPR means the responsibility of Producers, Importers and Brand-owners to ensure processing of their plastic packaging waste through recycling, re-use or end of life disposal.
2.What is EPR Plastic Authorization?
As per Plastic Waste Management Rules, any importer, producer or brand owner of Plastic Packaging falls under the preview of EPR Authorization. Therefore, these entities are required to obtain EPR Certificate from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
3.Who is required to register for EPR for Plastic Waste or Obtain EPR certificate for plastic waste management?
As per the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2022, the EPR Authorization is applicable on the following entities:
- Producer (P)
- Importer (I)
- Brand owner (BO)
- Plastic Waste Processor engaged in (a) recycling, (b) waste to energy, (c) waste to oil, and (d) industrial composting (PWP)
4.Which PIBOs are required to register with SPCB/PCC?
PIBOs which are operationalin one or two states/UTs are required to register with the concerned with SPCB/PCC
5.Which PIBOs are required to register with CPCB?
PIBOs which are operational in more than two states/UTs are required to register with CPCB.
6.What is Pre-consumer plastic packaging waste?
“Pre-consumer plastic packaging waste” means plastic packaging waste generated in the form of reject or discard at the stage of manufacturing of plastic packaging andplastic packaging waste generated during the packaging of product including reject,discard, before the plastic packaging reaches the end-use consumer of the product.
7.What is Post-consumer plastic packaging waste?
“Post-consumer plastic packaging waste” means plastic packaging waste generatedby the end-use consumer after the intended use of packaging is completed and is nolonger being used for its intended purpose.
8.How much application fees/annualprocessing/renewalfees to be paid for EPR Registration of PIBOs/ PWP ?
The details of fees to be paid by PIBO/ PWP is as given below:
a. Application fees for Registration of PIBOs
| Sl. No. | PW Generation Slab (TPA) | Proposed Processing Fees (Rs.) |
| 1 | <1000 | 10000 |
| 2 | 1000-10000 | 20000 |
| 3 | >10000 | 50000 |
b.Application fees for Registration of PWP
| Sl. No. | Production capacity Slab (TPA) | Proposed Processing Fees (Rs.) |
| 1 | < 200 | 5000 |
| 2 | 200-2000 | 20000 |
| 3 | >2000 | 50000 |
c.Renewal fees : Same as Registration fees
d.Annual Processing Fees: 25% of Application fees ( for PIBOs as well asPWP)
9.Our entity collects plastic waste; do we need to register as PWP?
Only entities engaged in plastic waste processing (recycling, co-processing, waste to energy, waste to oil) have to be registered as PWP.
10.What if PIBO has in-house recycling unit for their packaging plastic?
PIBO will have to register as PIBO and as Recycler both with relevant documentation.Credits can only be issued to recyclers and transaction of credits to PIBO shall bedocumented.
11.What is the Extended Producers Responsibility Implementation Process?
i) The first step is to register with the CPCB/SPCB by submitting the necessary documents.
ii) After receiving the EPR Certificate, the authorized waste management agency will collect the agreed volume of post-consumer plastic waste from the intended location over a one-year period and recycling or disposing of it securely in accordance with CPCB/SPCB norms.
iii) The waste collection agency will give evidence of waste collection operations in the form of appropriate papers.
iv) A quarterly report will be submitted to CPCB on behalf of PIBO’s.
v) After completion of activity, the agency will submit a final report to PIBO.