Ministry of Environment issues guidelines on EPR for plastic packaging

DIMAPUR — The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued guidelines regarding extended producer responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging.

These guidelines mandate that producers, importers, brand owners (PIBOs), and plastic waste processors (PWPs) must register on the centralised EPR portal established by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in order to fulfil their EPR obligations.

As per an update from the Nagaland Pollution Control Board, in accordance with directives from the CPCB, PIBOs are obligated to obtain registration from the CPCB if they operate in more than two states or UTs.

Conversely, if they operate in one or two states or UTs only, they must seek registration from the respective state pollution control boards (SPCBs) or pollution control committees (PCCs). Additionally, PWPs are required to obtain registration from the concerned SPCBs/PCCs.

PIBOs and PWPs who have not yet applied for registration are required to submit a registration application complete in all respects on the EPR portal by March 31. The guidance manual and the standard operating procedure for the registration of PIBOs and PWPs uploaded on the EPR portal may be referred to for this purpose.

The centralised EPR portal can be accessed through the CPCB website, cpcb.nic.in (navigate to Important Links: Registration of PIBOs and PWPs under PWM Rules) or directly via eprplastic.cpcb.gov.in/#/plastic/home.

Necessary action, as deemed appropriate under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, including the levying of environmental compensation and the closure of operations, will be taken against defaulters, it said.

For further information or queries related to the registration of PIBOs and PWPs in the centralised EPR portal, one can contact 7005239265 or 8732050834.