EPR for certificate for Plastic Waste

Plastic products play an indispensable role in our lives. From packaging to household items to gadgets, plastic products are everywhere, and their presence is rampant. Every year, India produces almost 5.6 MT of plastic waste, with the majority of being is packaging material. Unfortunately, this remarkably useful product is increasingly posing an unprecedented threat to the environment and human life. With that in mind, the GOI, in association with the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, came up with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2022. It is comprehensive legislation that keeps a tab on ever-rising plastic waste (with a major source being packaging items). It requires producers to get registered with the relevant pollution authority and secure an EPR certificate. Once gets registered, the licensee needs to collect, recycle, and dispose of plastic waste as per the prescribed target, which will increase annually. Let’s dig into the EPR certificate for plastic waste and its legalities.