What is the Need for CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization?
Extended producer responsibility is an environmental protection strategy that has been implemented and brought into force by the government to make the manufacturer obligated and responsible for the entire life cycle of the product, especially for recycling and the final effective disposal of the waste product. The entities involved in the product chain have a shared responsibility for end-of-life product management, and those ignoring these will have to face serious legal as well as reputation issues going forward as the problem of plastic waste worsens. In order to save yourself from huge non-compliance costs and consequently from reputational loss in the market, allow Enterclimate to enable you to procure the mandatory CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization. We have a renowned presence in the realm of Extended Producer Responsibility, i.e., EPR Compliance. Our team of EPR consultants has successfully assisted 10,000+ entities across the nation in securing EPR Authorization promptly and that too at a highly competitive price.
All About Extended Producer Responsibility
The Extended Producer Responsibility, popularly known as the EPR model, is based on the world-recognized principle of sustainable development and the polluter-pays principle, which intends to include producers of goods in the management and treatment of waste generated and keep raw materials and goods in the economic cycle. The integration of EPR schemes in national legislation then sets clear objectives for circular economy, reduction in waste generation, eco-design of materials, optimization of waste collection with local authorities and development of new circular economic systems.
The EPR framework helps in the building of a circular economy, which refers to an economic model of generating value by extending the product lifecycle through improved and enhanced design and from the end of the supply chain to the beginning of the life cycle. This helps the entities involved in the efficient utilization of resources by their recurrent use and further aims to retain the highest efficacy and value of products at all times through reuse, repair, recycling, refurbishment, etc.
What is EPR in Plastic?
As we are aware that plastic pollution has reached massive dimensions worldwide. The current projected growth of plastic pollution is said to cause significant ecological risks. The assessed global plastic use in the year 2019 was 459.75 million tonnes, which is expected to increase up to 1,230.63 million tonnes by 2060. There numerous reports highlighting the significant perils that the environment faces due to the plastic waste generated, especially microplastics littered in oceans and landfills, thereby causing environmental pollution. Therefore, witnessing the exponential increase in the use of plastic in packaging over the years, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change provided a regulatory framework for the effective management of plastic waste generated in the country in the year 2016.
The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016
There rules endeavored to enforce the responsibilities of users of plastic packaging in alignment with the concept of EPR i.e., Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, mandated the producers of plastic waste to take steps to diminish or minimize generation of plastic waste and not to litter the plastic waste, and further ensure segregating storage of waste at source & handing over segregated waste in accordance with rules.
The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2022
To further streamline the authorization of PIBOs with CPCB, the Ministry of Environment (MoEFCC) introduced an amendment in 2022, thereby enhancing the enhanced Extended Producer’s Responsibility to control the menace of plastic waste on the basis of the categories prescribed under the rules. In furtherance of the same, they are required to meet their EPR targets have been prescribed for the concerned PIBOs based on the different categories mentioned in CPCB EPR Plastic guidelines. This is based on the Polluter Pays Principle, which endorses the idea of making the malefactor pay for the harm caused to the environment.
Who Needs to Apply for CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization?
In India, the following entities need to apply for CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization
- Producers
- Importers
- Brand Owners
- Manufacturers
- Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs)
CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization is obligatory for all manufacturers and importers of Plastic Waste within the country.
Benefits of EPR Authorization for Plastic Waste
Extended Producer Responsibility i.e. EPR Authorization for plastic waste is a framework introduced with an objective of opposing the practice of planned obsolescence of products by providing incentives to the producers and manufacturers to design or manufacture products with the objective of recycling and enhancing their durability. Furthermore, EPR can assuage the burden on government and concerned authorities associated with the effective waste management by shifting a significant portion of the cost responsibility to the registered entities. By procuring EPR Authorization for plastic waste, the concerned entities will be able to enjoy the following array of benefits
Enhanced Environmental Protection
Environmental protection has become a growing concern with the increase in environmental issues across the globe, particularly due to improper and ineffective waste management. To combat the same, the government has introduced and implemented several EPR guidelines for plastic to alleviate these concerns. This helps the businesses and the entities involved in the business of using plastic packaging to take some responsibility with respect to the environmental protection by reducing the plastic waste they introduce in the market, which causes severe adverse environmental and health impacts.
Increased Legal Compliance
EPR under plastic waste management have become mandatory obligations which must be discharged meticulously, otherwise, your business may end up facing adverse legal and pecuniary consequences. These violations can also lead to the shutting of your business operations as well. Therefore, CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization helps you ensure legal compliance and protects you from any adversative consequences.
Enhanced Brand Reputation
A business is as good as its brand reputation. Ensuring CPCB EPR Plastic Compliance and obtaining EPR Authorization helps your business not only comply with the environmental and legal obligations but also helps you target those investors and venture capitalists who value environmental due diligence in high regard and consider these parameters while making investment decisions. This ensures your business experiences enhanced brand reputation in the concerned industry amongst your counterparts.
Reduced Costs
Another benefit of complying with CPCB EPR plastic obligations is that its increasing effectiveness which intends to create financial and regulatory incentives for waste reduction at the source itself. This ultimately encourages the development of environmentally friendly plastic product designs, and supports public recycling efforts and waste management objectives.
Our EPR Authorization Services for Plastic Waste Management
For businesses looking to obtain CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization, Enterclimate’s EPR Authorization Consultant Services in India provide a range of services. By engaging our renowned EPR Consultants, you can reap the following benefits
Expert EPR Consultation
Expert EPR Consultation helps the businesses ensure EPR compliance as they are often unfamiliar with the applicable rules and regulations since it is an unchartered territory for most of them. Our EPR Consultants help you circumnavigate through the arduous procedures of EPR compliance under the PWM Rules and they further help you comprehend the elaborate requirements for CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization as per your eligibilities.
Documentation Support
CPCB EPR plastic authorization approval process involves an extensive paperwork and documentation, and any inaccuracies in the paperwork can lead to delays or application rejections. Therefore, the concerned entities must methodically submit the required paperwork ensuring that all necessary details are contained to avoid any adverse consequences. Ensuring proper documentation and paperwork can be a laborious and resource-intensive process; therefore, allow our experts help our clients efficiently manage and fulfil these documentation requirements to ensure successful approval of their application for EPR Authorization.
Unparalleled Legal Supervision
EPR Compliance in plastic waste is governed by a myriad of rules that have been legally mandated by the agencies and they constantly get amended and updated. The failure to comply with these PWM Rules can attract adversative consequences. Our team at Enterclimate is known for ensuring comprehensive legal support services for EPR Authorization process, by providing a customizable package of services.
Constant Client Support
If you don’t believe us, believe our clients. We warrant that our esteemed clients stay abreast with the latest industry guidelines and updates regarding EPR Authorization process and other suitable monitoring. Our team of experts ensures that updates reach them well in time so that they can stay up to date.
End toEnd Assistance
Owing to our extensive presence in the field of EPR compliance and other environment related clearances, our licensing experts and professionals are copiously equipped to handle all your business queries and can provide comprehensive assistance throughout the EPR authorization process.
CPCB Guidelines for EPR Authorization for Plastic Waste Management
The CPCB issues certain guidelines from time to time to make the EPR Authorization for PIBOs and PWPs seamless. Some of these EPR guidelines are
- PIBOs shall not be allowed to carry out any business without CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization.
- PIBOs shall not be allowed to deal with any entity who has not obtained the authorization.
- If any registered entity is found to have provided false information or has malevolently concealed information or there is any irregularity, the authorization of such an entity would be revoked for a 5-year period and a penalty may also be imposed.
- The entities whose authorization has been revoked shall not be allowed to register afresh during the period of revocation.
- Furthermore, the PIBOs shall be required to file annual returns on the plastic packaging waste collected and processed towards fulfilling obligations under EPR with the concerned CPCB or SPCB or PCC, as per the pro forma prescribed by CPCB by the 30 April of the next financial year.
- Actions against violations and for non-fulfilment of EPR targets, obligations and responsibilities shall be taken and EC may be imposed as per policy
Categories of Plastic Packaging under EPR Compliance
Category I
|
Rigid plastic packaging: Rigid plastic is a type of plastic material that is inflexible and difficult to bend and does not deform under usual conditions. It is commonly used in numerous products such as bottles, toys, containers and automotive parts. |
Category II
|
Flexible plastic packaging which is made up of single layer or multilayers (more than 1 layer with different types of plastic), plastic sheets or like and also covers made up of plastic sheet, carry bags, plastic pouches or sachet. These are pliable plastic films or sheets commonly used for packaging food or beverage items, personal care products, household goods, etc. |
Category III
|
Multilayered plastic packaging (at least 1 layer of plastic and at least 1 layer of material which is other than plastic) that are combined together to enhance the performance and properties of plastic packaging. This type of plastic packaging is usually used for packaging food, or other sensitive items that require definite preservation conditions. |
Category IV
|
Plastic sheet used for packaging and also carry bags made up of compostable plastics. It has the property to break down and crumble into organic matter under explicit composting conditions. Compostable plastics are commonly used in single-use items like plastic bags, utensils, and plastic packaging, with the goal of reducing the generation of plastic waste and promoting sustainability. The EPR regulations mandate the importer of any of these products to compulsorily acquire EPR authorization to efficiently manage plastic waste generated. |
Importance of EPR
The EPR framework aims to lessen the financial and environmental burdens of waste management by extending the responsibility of producers to the end-of-life of their products. Producers and importers are required to pay a fee upfront under the EPR regime when their packed goods are placed on the market. The fee is used for collecting, recycling and disposing of the plastic packaging waste and other costs arising from maintaining the system.
The framework of extended producer responsibility in plastic also encourages waste reduction through the removal of unnecessary plastic packaging of products and at the same time encourages the development of a more environmentally friendly packaging design. EPR obligations and objectives are fulfilled through the development of the CPCB EPR Plastic measures that are introduced and amended from time to time, thereby placing targets on the concerned entities to achieve the overall reduction in plastic waste.
EPR Target under Plastic Waste Management
Central Pollution Control Board had issued a notification in June 2023 regarding the EPR target fulfilment for the financial year 2023-24 for the concerned Registered Producers, Importers and Brand- Owners (PIBOs) on Centralized Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Portal for Plastic Packaging. As per the guidelines and notification, the annual Returns have to be filed on the Centralized EPR Portal of CPCB and the EPR Target for the year 2023-24 will be auto-generated upon filing of the Annual Returns for the year 2022-23, as per provisions made on the EPR Portal.
EPR Target for PIBOs
The Provisional EPR target for the financial year 2023- 24 for the registered PIBOs shall be calculated as per details given below
Provisional EPR Target for 2023-24 = (EPR Target for 2022-23) / (0.7)
It must be noted that the provisional target for the financial year 2023-24 shall be applicable till the actual EPR target is generated based on filing of the Annual Returns for the year 2022-23 and all the registered PIBOs are legally obligated to fulfil their EPR target obligations as per the CPCB guidelines under plastic waste management.
EPR Obligations as per Categories of Plastic Packaging
The minimum level of prescribed recycling of plastic packaging waste, however excluding end-of-life disposal, is
|
Plastic Packaging Category |
% of Extended Producer Responsibility i.e. EPR Target |
|||
|
2024-25 |
2025-26 |
2026-27 |
2027-28 and onwards |
|
|
Category I |
50% |
60% |
70% |
80% |
|
Category II |
30% |
40% |
50% |
60% |
|
Category III |
30% |
40% |
50% |
60% |
|
Category IV |
50% |
60% |
70% |
80% |
Documents Required for EPR Registration Certificate
The following documents are required for EPR Registration for Plastic Waste Management Businesses
- Proof for sale in more than 2 states (such as GST or tax invoices)
- A detailed ERP Plan
- A Copy of authorisation from the concerned Department for selling the product
- Copies of agreement entered into with collection centres
- Copies of agreement entered into with dealers
- Copies of agreement with Treatment Facilities, Storage, and/or Disposal Facilities
- Copies of agreement with dismantlers and recyclers
- Copies of Self-declarations on ROHS i.e. Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive
- Copy of the DGFT permission or licence (IEC)
- Copy of agreement entered into with PRO
- Copies of PAN of Authorized Persons
- Copies of Aadhar Card of Authorized Persons
- Details of Mail ID of the Business/Company
- Signature (Jpeg.) of Authorized Person
- A valid Mobile Number
- Details of the Total Capital Invested in the Project
- Photo of the Packaging Material
- Purchase and invoices of the last 2 financial years
- Details of the total number of containers imported in a year.
Fees for CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization for PIBOs
The applicant shall pay the application fees as per the prescribed guidelines under the EPR regulations, along with the application for Registration. The Annual processing fees shall be as follows
|
S. No. |
Plastic Waste Generation (TPA) |
Application fees (Rs.) |
|
1 |
<1000 |
INR 10,000 |
|
2 |
1000-10000 |
INR 20,000 |
|
3 |
>10000 |
INR 50,000 |
Furthermore, the fees for renewal of CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization shall be same as same as Registration fee. The 25 per cent of this application fees which is to be paid as annual processing fees at the time of filing annual returns.
Application fees for Registration of PWP |
||
|
S. No. |
Production capacity Slab (TPA) |
Application fees (Rs.) |
|
1 |
< 200 |
INR 5,000 |
|
2 |
200-2000 |
INR 20,000 |
|
3 |
>2000 |
INR 50,000 |
Registration Process of EPR Authorization
It is mandatory for all PIBOs to apply for CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization under rule 9 of the PWM Rules, 2016, as amended in 2018. The process of EPR authorization involves undertaking the following steps in order to register with CPCB
- The applicant PIBOs or the Plastic waste Processor needs to fill out the EPR Authorization Form as prescribed by the rules, along with all mandatory documents, EPR Action Plan and the postulated fee.
- Post this, the CPCB will thoroughly examine all the applications, and if any shortcomings are found, the same are communicated to the applicant for rectification.
- If case the CPCB does not respond within 1 month of the receipt of the application, the EPR certificate is most likely to be granted.
- The EPR certificate is issued to the PIBOs online within 7 working days of submitting a successful application.
Process of Renewal of CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization
The renewal of Registration CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization entails the following steps
- The concerned PIBOs shall submit the application for renewal 4 months prior to the expiry of the CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization, along with the required documents.
- The PIBOs have to ensure that their Annual Reports are filed by June 30 of the following year as per the CPCB EPR plastic guidelines for the superseding Authorization period. The application for renewal will not be processed unless all due annual reports are filed.
- The findings of Audit Reports shall be taken into consideration for renewal of CPCB EPR plastic authorization.
- The authorization so granted to PIBO shall be renewed for a period of 3 years by CPCB or SPCBs or PCCs within 15 days of receipt of complete documents from the Producers and Brand Owners.
Why Procure CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization with Enterclimate?
You can consider procuring CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization with Enterclimate because the various benefits it bestows owing to its extensive experience and robust presence in the EPR domain. This will allow your business to thrive by ensuring the fulfilment of all your Extended Producer Responsibility obligations.
Our bespoke team of experts have vast knowledge and decades of relevant industry experience which they use to help you discharge the concerned CPCB EPR plastic obligations. We have a track record of 99.9 per cent efficiency in EPR Compliance and, particularly, in procuring CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization. We provide you with valuable insights and world-class services, so you can focus on your core business operations without any worry. If you want to deliberate and learn more about CPCB EPR Plastic Authorization, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Getting Started
Get ready to attain excellence by ensuring EPR Compliance. Contact us at 7838390340 to discuss how Enterclimate can help you navigate through the arduous EPR domain and help you achieve success in your business. Join us in building a profitable as well as a sustainable future.
