In a recent development, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has introduced the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, outlining crucial guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) concerning plastic packaging.
The amendments to the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 aim to expedite the phasing out of single-use plastics and endorse alternatives. EPR, or Extended Producer Responsibility, now implies the obligation of producers to ensure environmentally sound management of their products throughout their entire life cycle.
Under the 2016 rules, plastic waste generators were mandated to minimize waste generation, prevent littering, and facilitate segregated waste storage. Local bodies, gram panchayats, waste generators, retailers, and street vendors were also assigned specific responsibilities for plastic waste management.
Key provisions of the new rules include the classification of plastics into categories based on their characteristics. The guidelines emphasize the reuse of rigid plastic packaging and prescribe minimum recycling levels for plastic packaging waste collected under EPR. Surplus EPR certificates can now be sold and purchased, establishing a market mechanism for plastic waste management.
A centralized online portal, established by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will serve as a comprehensive data repository for EPR-related orders and guidelines.
The introduction of environmental compensation, based on the polluter pays principle, targets producers, importers, and brand owners failing to meet EPR targets. A committee under the chairmanship of the CPCB chairman will recommend measures for effective EPR implementation.
State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees are tasked with submitting annual reports on EPR fulfillment by various stakeholders. The importance of these guidelines lies in promoting the development of sustainable alternatives to plastics and establishing a framework to strengthen the circular economy of plastic packaging waste. The circular economy emphasizes reuse, sharing, repair, and recycling to minimize resource use, waste generation, pollution, and carbon emissions.
To complement these efforts, various initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission, India Plastics Pact, Project REPLAN, Un-Plastic Collective, and GoLitter Partnerships Project are already in motion. However, a comprehensive strategy involves finding substitutes for single-use plastics, providing alternative livelihoods, incentivizing sustainable practices, and promoting responsible consumerism.
As India strives to manage its plastic waste, a holistic approach involving government regulations, corporate responsibility, and citizen engagement is crucial to mitigate environmental harm and contribute to a sustainable future.
Highlights:
• Significantly, a total plastic packaging of 2.26 million tons has been covered under EPR for the year 2022-23. In order to contrast, the total plastic waste generated in the country during the year 2019-20 is around 3.4 million tons
• The United Nations Development Program aims to extend plastic waste management initiatives to 100 cities in India by 2024.
• Plastic waste accumulation poses a significant threat to the environment, particularly when it enters the sea, causing harm to aquatic ecosystems.
The significance of these guidelines lies in promoting the development of sustainable alternatives to plastics and establishing a framework to strengthen the circular economy of plastic packaging waste. The circular economy emphasizes reuse, sharing, repair, and recycling to minimize resource use, waste generation, pollution, and carbon emissions. To complement these efforts, various initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission, India Plastics Pact, Project REPLAN, Un-Plastic Collective, and GoLitter Partnerships Project are already in motion. However, a comprehensive strategy involves finding substitutes for single-use plastics, providing alternative livelihoods, incentivizing sustainable practices, and promoting responsible consumerism.
As India strives to manage its plastic waste, a holistic approach involving government regulations, corporate responsibility, and citizen engagement is crucial to mitigate environmental harm and contribute to a sustainable future.