The government of India has taken proactive measures to phase out single-use plastics and has adopted a globally recognized policy called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for efficient waste management of plastic, electronic, and electrical equipment. EPR is based on the principles of
- pollution prevention,
- life cycle thinking, and
- polluter pay
which makes it the responsibility of the producers not only to take back products for recycling but also to design better and longer life products to minimize the amount of waste generated. In this article, we will discuss the EPR policy for plastic and e-waste management in India, its advantages, challenges, and the way forward.
What is Extended Producer Responsibility
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as an environmental policy approach in which a producer’s responsibility for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of a product’s life cycle. An EPR policy is characterised by:
- the shifting of responsibility (physically and/or economically; fully or partially) upstream toward the producer and away from municipalities; and
- the provision of incentives to producers to take into account environmental considerations when designing their products.
While other policy instruments tend to target a single point in the chain, EPR seeks to integrate signals related to the environmental characteristics of products and production processes throughout the product chain.
EPR Policy in India
The EPR policy was adopted for the first time in India under the E-Waste (management and handling) Rules, 2016. The policy stipulates collection targets for e-waste for producers, who are responsible for setting up collection centers for e-waste and financing and organizing a system for environmentally sound management of e-waste. The producers are required to have an arrangement with dismantlers and recyclers through either the Producers responsibility organization or the E-Waste exchange system.
The marketing or selling of any electronic equipment without EPR responsibility authorization is considered a violation of the rules. Similarly, the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022 provide guidelines for strengthening the circular economy of plastic packaging waste as well as promoting alternatives to plastic. Producers are mandated to ensure that the generation of plastic waste is minimized, and plastic waste is not littered and stored at the source, which is then handed over to local bodies or authorized agencies.
Advantages of EPR Responsibility: The EPR policy has several advantages for producers and the environment. Firstly, producers get financial incentives to escape the added cost of waste management and recycling. Secondly, EPR responsibility has opened the market to new and innovative business of Producers Responsibility Organization waste management. Finally, EPR responsibility puts more pressure on developed countries that are major contributors to exporting E-Waste to developing countries to build their recycling units and facilities.
To overcome the challenges and make EPR policies more effective, India needs to develop tracking mechanisms and provide oversight of waste compliance to streamline the waste disposal mechanism. The government should build an incentive structure around the EPR policy to ensure better compliance by the producers. Innovators should come up with propositions that bridge the compliance necessity faced by producers and the strong will of the Government to rid the toxic waste in a sustainable and safe manner.
MCQs on Extended Producer Responsibility
- What is Extended Producers’ Responsibility?
A. A policy to hold producers accountable for end-of-life waste management of certain products.
B. A policy that places the responsibility of waste management on consumers.
C. A policy that focuses solely on reducing plastic packaging waste.
D. A policy that does not have any impact on electronic waste management.
- Which of the following is a part of the guidelines for Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) for Plastic Packaging?
A. Recycling of plastic packaging waste.
B. Increased use of single-use plastic packaging.
C. Disposal of plastic waste in landfills.
D. Ignoring the environmental impact of plastic packaging waste.
- What is the primary objective of extended producer responsibility (EPR)?
A. To add all of the environmental costs associated with a product throughout the product life cycle to the market price of that product.
B. To increase the amount and degree of product recovery and to minimize the environmental impact of waste materials.
C. To decrease the total environmental impact of a product by making the manufacturer of the product responsible for the entire life-cycle of the product and especially for the take-back, recycling and final disposal.
D. To achieve higher environmental standards in product design.
- Who introduced the concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR)?
A. Thomas Lindhqvist
B. The Swedish Ministry of the Environment
C. Environmental protection agencies
D. Waste management companies
- What is the relationship between extended producer responsibility (EPR) and remanufacturing initiatives?
A. EPR is unrelated to remanufacturing initiatives.
B. EPR is a barrier to the adoption of remanufacturing initiatives.
C. EPR is a driving force behind the adoption of remanufacturing initiatives.
D. EPR is a competitor to remanufacturing initiatives.
