Lok Sabha Question No. 1047 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: EPR Guidelines
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth, Shri Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1047

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2024

## EPR Guidelines

1047:

SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH: SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  measures  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  the  low registration rates of major polluters under the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) guidelines;
- (b) the manner in which Government will prevent fraudulent certificate generation and ensure accountability in the recycling sector along with the action taken/proposed to be taken against the polluters for generating fake certificates;
- (c) the reasons for exclusion of urban local bodies and informal waste collectors from the EPR framework including the manner in which their representation will be ensured along with the  measures adopted by the Government to support waste management agencies and informal waste collectors;
- (d) the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  to  improve  recyclability  through  product standardization  along  with  the  way  by  which  the  Government  will  ensure  accurate reporting of plastic waste generation;
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to increase transparency in the EPR system along with the funds allocated to tackle plastic problem and support the EPR framework; and
- (f) the  timeline  fixed  for  implementing  corrective  measures  to  address  the  issues highlighted in the Centre for Science and Environment Report?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  to  (f):  The  number  of  registered  Producers,  Importers,  and  Brand  owners  (PIBOs)  for different  waste  streams  covered  under  extended  producer  responsibility  are  given  below.

| Waste streams           | Registered producers under EPR   |
|-------------------------|----------------------------------|
| Plastic packaging waste | 44,659                           |
| E-waste                 | 7050                             |
| Battery waste           | 2933                             |
| Waste tyres             | 179                              |
| Used oil                | 8                                |

The waste processers for plastic packaging, E-waste, battery waste, waste tyre and used oil are verified  by  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  and  Pollution  Control  Committees  before  their registration  under  EPR  regime.  Further,  the  EPR  Guidelines  of  plastic  packaging  allow CPCB/SPCB/PCC to undertake audit of PIBOs and Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs). EPR certificates are uploaded by recyclers at respective centralized online EPR portals.

There is provision under the rules for conducting inspection and periodic audit of PIBOs by CPCB  or  through  designated  agency.  Further,  compliance  of  PWPs  is  verified  by  CPCB through inspection and periodic audit. In case of PWPs and PIBOs operating in a State or Union Territory, CPCB may, if required, direct SPCB or PCC to take action.

Further,  accurate  reporting  of  plastic  waste  generation  is  ensured  through  filing  of  annual returns by PIBOs which mandates them to report the procurement of packaging raw material and plastic packaging sold.

EPR relies on market-based mechanism, wherein recyclers develop their own mechanism for sourcing  the  waste  from  agencies  involved  in  waste  collection  including  informal  waste collectors and the EPR certificates generated by them after recycling, are purchased by the obligated entities i.e. PIBOs.

The role of urban local bodies has been provided under EPR guidelines. The certificate for plastic packaging waste provided by registered plastic waste processors can be issued to Local authorities based upon agreed modalities. Local authorities, in turn, may trade EPR certificates with the PIBOs for fulfilment of their EPR obligations.

PIBOs  while  fulfilling their EPR  obligation  may  develop  collection  and segregation infrastructure of plastic packaging waste based on the category of plastics, which may include different implementation modalities.

PIBOs, to fulfill  the EPR obligations, may offer collection of plastic, from the entities like urban local bodies, gram panchayats, other public authorities or third parties carrying out waste management and provide for the collection from all entities that have made use of that offer. Further, PIBOs may provide necessary practical arrangement for collection and transport under the EPR guidelines.

EPR  regulations  recognize  the  registered  recyclers  through  which  EPR  certificates  are generated and used for fulfillment of obligations of PIBOs which encourages formalization of informal waste management sector.

The obligation of minimum level of recycling of plastic packaging waste,  E waste,  battery waste, waste tyre and used oil envisages strengthening of the waste management sector through involvement of both formal/informal sector. The local authorities can participate under the EPR regime of plastic packaging as per EPR Guidelines on plastic packaging.

Further, the EPR Guidelines also promote sustainable plastic packaging including increasing recyclability  of  plastic  packaging.  In  order  to  increase  transparency,  already  there  are functional centralized EPR portals for plastic packaging, E-waste, battery waste, waste tyre and used oil. The EPR target of PIBOs and availability of EPR certificates generated by registered waste processors, is available in public domain on the dashboard of Centralized EPR portals.

The Central Pollution Control Board had conducted random audit of registered plastic waste processors,  as  per  Guidelines  for  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  on  plastic  packaging. Irregularities were observed during the random audit of plastic waste processors. Accordingly, CPCB had issued directions  dated  26.10.2023 to  concerned  SPCBs  to  levy  Environmental Compensation  (EC)  corresponding  to  the  quantum  of  EPR  certificates  generated  not  in conformity  with  the  stipulated  requirements  and  also  to  take  necessary  actions,  as  per applicable law, against the violating Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs). Directions were also issued  to  all  SPCBs  /  PCCs  to  take  necessary  action  and  ensure  that  the  EPR  certificates generated by PWPs are in accordance with the stipulated requirements and take the necessary actions as per applicable law against the violating PWPs.

The waste management rules on plastic packaging, E-waste, battery waste, used oil as well as waste tyre having EPR, provide for constitution of a Steering/  Implementation  Committee, under respective waste management rules, to oversee the implementation of EPR and remove difficulties, as required.

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