EPR(extended Producer Responsibility)

Types of EPR Categories

There are 3 types of EPR : plastic, e-waste, and batteries as issued by the CPCB:
(would discuss in details below)
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• Plastic EPR: Under plastic EPR, plastic waste generators and brand owners are responsible for the management of plastic waste generated from their products. This includes the collection, segregation, transportation, and processing of plastic waste. The plastic EPR framework also encourages the use of eco-friendly materials and promotes a circular economy by encouraging recycling and the reuse of plastic waste. This also includes any type of plastic packaging on item imported, produced , sold
• ‍E-waste EPR: The E-waste EPR framework places the responsibility of e-waste management on the producers of electronic and electrical equipment. The producers are required to ensure the safe handling, collection, transportation, and disposal of e-waste generated from their products. The framework also promotes the recovery of precious metals and other materials from e-waste to reduce the pressure on natural resources.
• ‍Battery EPR: Under battery EPR, battery manufacturers are responsible for the management of batteries generated from their products. This includes the collection, transportation, and recycling of batteries at the end of their useful life. The framework also promotes the use of eco-friendly battery technologies and the safe disposal of hazardous materials found in batteries.These EPR frameworks are intended to reduce the burden on municipal solid waste management systems and promote a sustainable and circular economy by ensuring the responsible management of plastic waste, e-waste, and batteries.

E-Waste EPR

What is E-Waste?

‍Electronic waste, commonly referred to as e-waste, is a term used to describe discarded electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones, televisions, and other electronic gadgets. These gadgets contain a variety of hazardous and non-hazardous materials that can cause environmental and health risks if not disposed of properly.

E-waste is a growing problem worldwide as the usage of electronic devices continues to increase. Many of these devices contain toxic chemicals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and flame retardants, which can pose a serious threat to human health and the environment if not handled properly.

Improper disposal of e-waste, such as throwing it in the trash or landfill, can lead to the release of hazardous chemicals and heavy metals into the soil and groundwater. This can pollute water sources, harm wildlife and cause damage to ecosystems. Burning e-waste can also lead to air pollution, which can have a significant impact on human health.

To address the e-waste problem, it is essential to promote responsible and sustainable disposal practices. This includes proper recycling, reusing, and refurbishing of electronic devices to prevent unnecessary waste. In addition, manufacturers can play a critical role in reducing e-waste by designing products that are more durable and easy to repair.

Several initiatives and regulations have been implemented to address the e-waste problem, including the Basel Convention, which restricts the export of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries. Governments, organizations, and individuals can also contribute to reducing e-waste by adopting responsible and sustainable practices such as buying high-quality products, repairing electronic devices when possible, and recycling them properly.

List of Items in E-waste?
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‍Dish Washing Machines ,Electric cookers ,Electric stoves ,Electric hot plates ,Microwaves, Microwave Oven ,Other large appliances used for cooking and other processing of food ,Electric heating appliances ,Electric radiators ,Other large appliances for heating rooms, beds, seating furniture ,Electric fans ,Other fanning, exhaust ventilation and conditioning equipment ,Vacuum cleaners ,Carpet sweepers ,Other appliances for cleaning ,Appliances used for sewing, knitting, weaving and other processing for textiles ,Iron and other appliances for ironing, mangling and other care of clothing ,Grinders, coffee machines and equipment for opening or sealing containers or ,packages ,Smoke detector ,Heating Regulators ,Thermostats ,Automatic dispensers for hot drinks ,Automatic dispensers for hot or cold bottles or cans ,Automatic dispensers for solid products ,Automatic dispensers for money ,All appliances which deliver automatically all kinds of products ,Indoor air purifier ,Hair dryer ,Electric shaver ,Electric kettle ,Electronic display panels/board/visual display unit , ,Toys, Leisure and Sports Equipment ,Electrical trains or car racing sets ,Hand-held video games consoles ,Video games ,Computers for biking, diving, running, rowing, etc. ,Sports equipment with electric or electronic components ,Coin slot machines ,Medical Devices (With the Exception of All Implanted and Infected Products) ,Radiotherapy equipment and accessories ,Cardiology equipment and accessories ,Dialysis equipment and accessories ,Pulmonary ventilators and accessories ,Nuclear Medicine Equipment and accessories ,Laboratory equipment for in vitro diagnosis and accessories ,Analysers and accessories ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) ,Scanner, Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner, & Ultrasound Equipment along with ,accessories ,Fertilization tests equipment and accessories ,Other electric appliances/equipment/kits used for preventing, screening, detecting, ,monitoring, evaluating, reviewing, examining, investigating, probing, treating illness ,sickness, disease, disorder, affliction, infection, injury, trauma, abuse or disability ,including the Mobiles, Tablets or any other device with the features having the ,potential of sex selection and their accessories ,Laboratory Instruments ,Gas analyser ,Equipment having electrical and electronic components  ,Cellular telephones ,Answering System ,Products or equipment of transmitting sound, images or other information by ,telecommunications ,BTS (all components excluding structure of tower) ,Tablets, I-PAD ,Phablets ,Scanners ,Routers ,GPS ,UPS ,Inverter ,Modems ,Electronic data storage devices ,Consumer Electrical and Electronics and Photovoltaic Panels: ,Television sets (including sets based on Liquid Crystal Display and light Emitting ,Diode Technology) ,Refrigerator ,Washing Machine ,Air- Conditioners excluding centralised air conditioning plants ,Fluorescent and other Mercury containing lamps ,Screen, Electronic Photo frames, Electronic Display Panel, Monitors ,Radio sets ,Set top Boxes ,Video Cameras ,Video Recorders ,Hi-Fi Recorders ,Audio Amplifiers , ,Centralized data processing: Mainframes, Minicomputers ,Personal Computing: Personal Computers (Central Processing unit with input and ,output devices) ,Personal Computing: Laptop Computers (Central Processing unit with input and ,output devices) ,Personal Computing: Notebook Computers ,Personal Computing: Notepad Computers ,Printers including cartridges etc
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Plastic EPR

What is Plastic EPR?

As per the Plastic Waste Management Rules, producers, importers and brand owners who supply their products in the market have the Extended Producers Responsibility to manage plastic waste generated by the plastic packaging of their products. They should collaborate with the local government to form a strategy to manage plastic waste generated by their product

The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, mandate the generators of plastic waste to take steps to minimize generation of plastic waste, not to litter the plastic waste, ensure segregated storage of waste at source and hand over segregated waste in accordance with rules. The rules also mandate the responsibilities of local bodies, gram panchayats, waste generators, retailers and street vendors to manage plastic waste.

What are the items considered as Plastic Waste?

There are 4 types of Plastic Packaging Category (Ref here):

• Category I: Rigid Packaging Plastic. Example : Water bottles, Detergents bottles, oil bottles, etc
• Category II: Flexible plastic packaging of single layer or multilayer (more than one layer with different types of plastic). Example : Plastic wrapping for any item : like plastic lamination on electronic products
• Category III: Multilayered plastic packaging (at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material other than plastic). Example : Food Packaging, etc
• ‍Category IV: Plastic sheet or like used for packaging as well as carry bags made of compostable plastics. Example : Plastic carry bags, trash bags, polythene etc.

Who are different types of Applicants in Plastic Waste?

There are 3 types of applicants:
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• Importer: Importer is any entity that is importing a material from outside country The material may be plastic or may have plastic packaging
• Producer: Producer refers to entity that is actually producing/ manufacturing the plastic and selling to importers or brandowners
• Brand Owner: ; Brand Owner means a person or company who sells any commodity under a registered brand label or trade. Note : The Micro & Small category of Brandowners are exempted from fulfilling EPR obligation.

Battery EPR

What is Battery EPR?

Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change notified Battery Waste Management (BWM) Rules on 22nd August, 2022 as per which every producer and person or an entity involved in manufacturing of battery shall have to register with CPCB. Producers and manufacturers of battery shall have to register through the online centralized portal developed by CPCB. As per the provision under Rule 4 (1), Producer has the obligation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for the Battery that they introduce in the market to ensure the attainment of the recycling or refurbishing obligations. Producers are required to fulfill their EPR obligation by ensuring that waste battery is recycled through certified waste battery recyclers to meet assigned EPR targets. They shall obtain EPR certificates from recyclers according to the quantity of waste batteries recycled by recyclers and use such certificates to meet their EPR targets.

What type of items are covered in Battery EPR?

Any type of battery item or any equipment containing battery is covered in Battery EPR

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• Manufactures and Sells new battery under its own brand: A producer who is involved in manufacturing of new batteries in a production facility and sells the manufactured new batteries in the market under its own brands.
• Manufactures and Sells new battery in equipment under its own brand: A producer who is involved in manufacturing ofnew batteries in a production facility and sells the manufactured batteries contained in equipment in the market under its own brands.
• Manufactures and Sells Refurbished battery in equipment under its own brand:A producer who is involved in manufacturing of refurbished batteries in a production facility and sells the manufactured refurbished batteries in the market under its own brands.
• Manufactures and Sells RefurbishedBattery under its own brand A producer who is involved in manufacturing ofrefurbished batteries in a production facilityand sells the manufactured refurbishedbatteries contained in equipment in the marketunder its own brands
• Manufactures new Battery and Sells to other manufacturers under their own brand name or no brand: A producer who is involved in manufacturing of new batteries in a production facility and sells the manufactured new batteries to other manufacturers/producers of batteries under its own brand or no branding.
• Sells refurbished Battery refurbished by others under its own brand name: A producer who is involved in selling refurbished batteries in the market under its own brand name which are refurbished by others(refurbishers/producers/manufacturers)
• Sells Refurbished Battery in equipment refurbished by other Refurbishers under its own brand: A producer who is involved in selling refurbished batteries in equipment in the market under its own brand name which are refurbished by others(refurbishers/producers/manufacturers)
• Sells new Battery manufactured by other manufacturers under its own brand: A producer who is involved in the selling of new batteries in the market under its own brandname which is manufactured by other manufacturers/producers
  
• Sells new Battery manufactured by others, in equipment under its own brand. A producer who is involved in the selling of new batteries in equipment in the market under its own brand name which is manufactured by other manufacturers/producers
  
• Sells new Battery imported by other importers under its own brand name. A producer who is involved in the selling of imported batteries in the market under its own brand which is imported by other importers.
• Sells new Battery imported by themselves, under its own brand name.A producer who is involved in the selling ofimported batteries in the market under its own brand name.
• Sells Imported battery of other Brands or no brand. A producer who is involved in the selling of imported batteries under the brand name of the foreign exporter or no brand name
• Sells Imported equipment containing battery of other brand(s) or no brand. A producer who is involved in the selling of imported batteries in equipment under the brand name of the foreign exporter or no brandname.
• Sells imported new Battery of any brand or no brand in any equipment. A producer who is involved in importing of batteries and selling the batteries in equipment under the brand name of the foreign exporter or no brand name.
• Importer importing new Battery for self use. A producer who is involved in importing of batteries for self-use.
• Importer importing equipment containing battery for self-use. A producer who is involved in importing equipment containing batteries for self-use.
• Importer importing new battery and selling it under their own brand name or no brand to other manufacturers. A producer who is involved in the selling of imported batteries under their own brand name or no brand name to other manufacturers/producers.
• Importer importing equipment containing battery and selling it under their own brand name or no brand to other manufacturers. A producer who is involved in the selling of imported equipment containing batteries under their own brand name or no brand name to other manufacturers/producers.