From poly bags to water bottles, the consumption of plastic is everywhere and in fact, in recent years, it has grown to a great extent and so has its waste output. India, the second most populous country in the world, produces 3.4 million tonnes of plastic waste in a year and what’s most shocking here is that only 30 percent of it gets recycled. So, where does the rest go? Often to the overfilled landfills or gets dumped in open spaces and water bodies, which not only pollutes the environment but also proves to be pretty detrimental to the health of people, especially children. What’s the solution to this poor situation? The answer is Plastic Waste Management Authorization, which ensures the processing of plastic waste, or we can say, plastic scrap generated in the country happens in an environmentally friendly and efficient way.
The motive behind this is to inculcate the culture of recycling in the Indian plastic waste sector. With a Plastic Waste Management Certificate, PWPs, also known as Plastic Waste Processors, can conform to the existing waste management rules and keep their activities immune to any legal troubles. Let’s understand this in a better way.
What is Plastic Waste Management Authorization?
What is Plastic Waste? In simple terms, Plastic waste is nothing but discarded plastic scrap. It can be biodegradable, non-biodegradable, plastic packaging waste, pre or post-consumer, thermostat plastic, etc. Now, with the rising amount of plastic waste, its processing becomes of paramount importance, and here comes the Plastic Waste Management Authorization into the picture. As per the Second Amendment of the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2022, every Plastic Waste Processor (PWP) and recycler are required to get a Plastic Waste Management certificate from the concerned State Pollution Control Board, or else, they won’t be allowed to continue their activities legally and can face legal penalties for its violation. Besides this, PWPs are also under a legal obligation to get registered through the online centralized portal developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This way, the Indian government seeks to bring accountability, traceability, and transparency when it comes to the fulfillment of EPR Obligations.
- Plastic Waste Processor
Here, some might think what is a Plastic Waste Processor or EPR? Let’s start with PWP first. As per the Plastic Waste Management Rules, PWPs are the recyclers of Plastic Waste and the entities involved in the processing of Plastic Waste to use it as a source of energy or oil.
Except in cases where feedstock chemicals are produced as a result for further use in the production of plastic which may then be considered under recycling, or industrial composting.
- Extended Producer Responsibility
Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR is an environmental protection policy adopted by the Indian government to make Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) responsible for the waste management they are generating. Under the waste management rules, these entities are required to get an EPR certificate and fulfill the EPR obligations, which means effective collection, transportation, storage, treatment, recycling, or disposal of their plastic products. And to meet these obligations, the majority of them often make arrangements with the PWPs and recyclers.