Today, the world produces 250 million tons of plastic. Most of this ends up in landfills and oceans, and if estimates are to be believed, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. One way to help reduce this is by using EPR (extended producer responsibility), which aims to maximize recycling rates while minimizing waste going to landfills. There are some things you should know about EPR before you start your own recycling program. Here are some ways they work and why they’re important for a sustainable future.

EPR is a process for the management of plastics in the environment. The technique is used to extract and separate waste plastics into different product streams, which can be recycled or down-cycled. The process was developed in the 1990s and has now been deployed at scale in many countries. It is a cost-effective alternative to landfill or incineration, with benefits for recycling, sustainability, and resource security.

Know the EPR Authorization Process

A person needs to know the EPR authorization process for channelizing the E-waste and plastic waste generated into the markets. The EPR authorization Certificate process is a set of steps that are undertaken before the issuance of an EPR Authorization. This is issued by the competent authority by which a decision to protect personal data is made. It also specifies certain conditions and obligations in order to ensure that the rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests of data subjects are protected. If you want to know about EPR Authorization Process then read more on this blog post where we have shared about it.

In India, the Procedure for registering for EPR authorization.

• Step 1 # Document Submission

Producers/manufacturers, dismantlers, recyclers, and refurbishers of electrical and electronic equipment can apply online and provide hard copies of the application in Form-I together with the relevant papers. Furthermore, before submitting the application, the applicant must double-check the documents.

• Step 2 # Verification of Documents

Within 25 days of receiving the application, the Central Pollution Control Board must verify and evaluate the information given.

• Step 3 # The Pollution Control Board issues an EPR authorization.

The Central Pollution Control Board will issue an EPR in Form No. 1(AA) within 120 days of receiving the application.

The authorization for Extended Producers Responsibility is valid for five years.

What is the document required for EPR Authorization?

You’ve just been assigned an EPR Authorization and you’re wondering what documents are required to complete the process. You may be unsure of which document is needed, or how to get one. Here is a list of the documents that will need to be submitted for your authorization to be completed:

• EPR application form
• EPR planning in detail.
• Details of the self-declaration on ROHS compliance.
• IEC Code
• Collection centers and producers reached a quick agreement.
• Statutory documents like GST, PAN card, IEC, Certificate of Incorporation or Trade license.
• Agreement with the PRO, Recycler/Dismantler.

The benefits of extended producer responsibility policies

Economic, environmental, and social advantages are all possible outcomes of extended producer responsibility policies. Local governments are often responsible for the cost of managing and coordinating the disposal of solid waste. Rising garbage creation, more strict technical requirements for landfill and incinerator operation, and increased difficulties in building new waste disposal facilities due to public opposition all contribute to the rising cost of waste disposal. In most cases, the government—specifically, local governments—is financially and physically responsible for waste disposal. Extended producer responsibility is an attempt to incentivize manufacturers to design products with lower environmental impacts while shifting disposal costs to the manufacturer.

It’s tough to recycle things that aren’t designed to be dismantled, contain high levels of harmful substances, or have difficult-to-recycle components like composite resins. Because the producer is liable for disposal under extended producer responsibility, producing products that can be easily recycled or reused is potentially in the manufacturer’s best interest. Most extended producer responsibility regulations demand producers to recycle a certain percentage of the collected product by weight or volume in addition to allocating duty for product disposal.

Read Also: NOC from Central and State Pollution Board: How to Get Approval