Government proposes rules for packaging waste management

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the draft Environment Protection (Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging) Rules, 2024, aiming to enhance waste management for materials such as paper, glass, metal, and sanitary products. This marks a significant step towards sustainable packaging waste management in India.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): A poly approach where producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs) are accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, especially for take-back, recycling, and final disposal. Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs): Entities that manufacture, import, or sell products under a registered brand or label.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requires producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs) to manage packaging waste from production to disposal, ensuring recycling, reduced environmental impact, and use of renewable materials.

The draft tries to establish specific recycling targets for PIBOs concerning packaging waste generated from the specified materials. PIBOs are required to register on a centralised online portal. For operation in one or two states, registration is with the State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee; for more than two states, registration is with the Central Pollution Control Board. Non-compliance EPR targets will result in environmental compensation, adhering to the 'polluter pays' principle.

The rules encourage the use of recycled materials and sustainable packaging designs to minimise environmental impact and conserve resources. They also offer incentives for adopting eco-friendly materials and innovative recycling technologies, facilitating a transition towards greener practices. 

PIBOs must submit regular reports on their waste management initiatives and recycling compliance, ensuring transparency and enabling monitoring of progress towards a cleaner and more sustainable environment.

Criticism has emerged over the draft omitting mandatory reuse targets for glass, and mandated incineration for sanitary waste, sidelining reusable/biodegradable alternatives. It also fails to map or integrate informal waste networks, risking duplication.