Introduction: the contextualization and background information

What exactly entails one’s participation in Extended Producers’ Responsibilities?

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy is one that is recognized on a global scale and requires producers to take responsibility for the effective management of plastic, electronic, and electrical equipment that has reached the end of its useful life. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mandates that producers either pay to have their products disposed of or pay for them themselves.

The responsibility for EPR is based on three fundamental principles:

1. Methods for limiting pollution

2. The polluter is held accountable

3. the concept of the life cycle

In order to cut down on waste, EPR mandates that manufacturers recycle their products and develop models that are more durable and reliable.

EPR India

EPR Certificate:

• Electronic product producers and importers are required to possess an EPR responsibility certificate authorized by the Central Pollution Control Board.

• In accordance with these regulations, producers are required to hand over the management of waste to outside parties or to specialized organizations that they are able to provide financial support for.

Issues:

  • The G20 nations have expressed interest in India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for used tyres, batteries, and revised rules for e-waste and plastics, which was recently featured in the news.

  • In order to promote the responsible disposal of electronic waste and to ensure compliance with Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR), the authorities in Delhi will develop a system of incentives and disincentives. Incorporating kabadiwalas into the formal system will result in improved procedures for the collection and sorting of e-waste. E-waste parks are also being planned for the purpose of improved management.

Implications: “pros and cons” based on the evidence presented.

Advantages

Recycling can put a financial or physical strain on producers, which can be a financial incentive for producers to design more sustainable and environmentally friendly products. 

• Producers’ end-of-life costs can be reduced directly through the use of fewer materials and the design of products that last longer.

• As EPR policy becomes more widely adopted, countries that export e-waste will face an increasing amount of pressure. This will discourage the export of electronic waste and encourage the construction of recycling facilities.

Disadvantages

• Manufacturers may use recall programs to shred rather than reuse or repair electronics that come in for recycling if such laws are enacted.

• The cost of recycling may be added to the initial price of the electronic product; •There is a possibility that recycling fees will discourage the use of superior materials in electronic products.

INITIATIVES : “Structural and functional initiatives Taken”

Responsibility Frameworks for EPR:

  • Extended Producer Responsibility was first outlined in the Indian E-Waste (management and handling) Rules, which were published in 2016.

  • E–Waste collection is mandated for producers by the E–Waste (management) Rules of 2016, which went into effect in 2016.

  • Electronic waste generators are responsible for establishing collection centers, providing funding for those centers, and managing the waste responsibly.

  • In order to comply with the Producers Responsibility Organization or the E-Waste exchange system, manufacturers are required to collaborate with dismantlers and recyclers.

  • It is against the law to sell electronic goods without having the appropriate EPR responsibility Authorization.

Responsibility under the Rules for the Management of Plastic Waste

  • The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022 encourage the use of alternative materials to plastic and work to strengthen the circular economy of waste plastic packaging.

  • Those who generate waste are obligated to cut back on plastic waste, to store it where it was generated, and to hand it over to the appropriate authorities.

INNOIVATION : “The way ahead” is innovation.

The term “circular economy” (CE) is being used as a tool to solve environmental and economic problems. Because of the limited availability of many resources as well as the detrimental effects of waste and pollution, the circular economy is an alternative to linear economic growth that is more resilient and sustainable than the latter.

Around the world, governments, businesses, and other organizations are investigating the potential benefits of circular practices and a circular economy. At COP27, attention was drawn to the important part that the circular economy plays in lowering India’s carbon emissions through more responsible consumption and better resource management.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, REFURBISH, RECOVERY, AND REPAIRING OF MATERIALS ARE THE 6 R’S THAT MAKE UP THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY.