Around the world, a lot of countries are introduced to EPR or Extended Producer Responsibility. EPR has proven to be an effective policy in tackling waste. EPR is a powerful tool that helps regulate waste management responsibilities among the stakeholders in the system. Stakeholders in EPR & Waste Ecosystem include:
- National Authority
- Consumers
- Producer Responsibility Organisation (PROs)
- Producers, Brands, and Importers (PIBOs)
- Recyclers & Aggregators
- Informal Sector
The Role of Stakeholders in EPR is a series of blogs that will highlight the Roles and Benefits of each stakeholder in the ecosystem.
The definition of a recycler as per CPCB means “Any person who is engaged in recycling and reprocessing of waste plastic/electrical and electronic equipment or assemblies or their components and having recycling facilities”.
Recycler is the entity that transforms segregated plastic and electronics and electrical (e-waste) waste into a new product or raw material for producing new products.
The term recyclers also Include collection agencies, Waste to Energy Plants, cement co-processors, Road Construction mixers and other such recyclers/recoverees of plastic as Condensed Boards manufacturers.
Role of a Recycler in Implementation of EPR in India
A recycler is the last stakeholder among the stakeholders involved in EPR. The responsibilities of a recycler hold a great deal of importance. Recyclers and co-processors are the endpoints where the recycling and processing of plastic and e-waste happens. The following are the responsibilities a recycler has to fulfil, according to CPCB.
- Shall ensure that the facility and recycling processes are in accordance with the standards or guidelines prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board from time to time.
- Ensure that no damage is caused to the environment during the storage and transportation of e-waste.
- Ensure that the recycling processes do not have any adverse effect on the health and the environment.
- Make available all records to the Central Pollution Control Board or the concerned State Pollution Control Board for inspection.
- Ensure that the fractions or material not recycled in its facility is sent to the respective authorised recyclers.
- Ensure that residue generated during the recycling process is disposed of in an authorised treatment storage disposal facility.
- Maintain a record of e-waste collected, dismantled, recycled and sent to authorised recyclers.
- May accept waste electrical and electronic equipment or components not listed in Schedule I for recycling provided that they do not contain any radioactive material and the same shall be indicated while taking the authorisation from the concerned State Pollution Control Board.
- Operation without Authorisation by any recycler, as defined in this rule, shall be considered as causing damage to the environment.
- To approach the PROs with an efficient plan of recycling / recovering plastic and get funds from the EPR Corpus funds according to the waste management scheme proposed.
- Will drive efficiencies in the waste management initiatives.
- Involve and uplift existing marginalized communities, currently involved in the waste management process (rag-pickers, etc.).
Authorisation
Recyclers should have a valid consent to operate from the concerned state pollution control boards. They should follow all the standards of processing, recycling, and the pollution control norms.
Registration
Recyclers should register themselves as recyclers with the State and Central Pollution Control Boards (SPCB, CPCB) and local bodies. The registration may be done by issuing Udyog Aadhar Memorandum.
Communication
Recyclers should communicate regularly with the designated govt. Bodies (PCB’s) regarding their involvement in EPR activity. Alongside, they should also attach the details about the processed plastic and e-waste, and clients’ details.
Benefits of implementation to stakeholders in EPR
Implementing EPR is proving to have a great number of benefits for the economy, and the environment. It creates more room for sustainable development and a circular economy. Here are a few ways recyclers can benefit from EPR.
- Create employment opportunities in the waste management sector which will reduce the dependency on scrap importers. There is a great potential for creating jobs 6 to 8 times more than the jobs currently present in landfill or incineration.
- Recyclers can tie up with various organizations in the supply chain industry by offering recycling services. It’ll help the recyclers be EPR compliant as well as help organizations conform to EPR rules and regulations.
- Recyclers are a huge part of the circular economy as they recycle plastic and e-waste scrap which contributes to manufacturing new products. Alongside, the recycled materials will be useful for various other purposes such as building roads, constructing houses and more.
For EPR to be successful and a circular economy to come in place, each stakeholder and their roles are highly important. The aim is to spread awareness among each stakeholder on their role in the waste management system.
Recykal has a wide network of recyclers who actively take part in helping fulfil EPR targets of various brands and organizations. If you are a recycler looking to grow your business, get in touch with us and join our network.
Book a Free 30-min call for EPR consultation and how you can get started.
