EPR Weekly Newsletter - Edition 04

Welcome to the fourth edition of our EPR Weekly Newsletter! As we continue our journey through the dynamic world of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), this edition brings you the latest updates, insights, and developments shaping the sustainability landscape. Stay connected with us as we explore emerging trends and keep you informed on all things EPR.

Policy Updates

Major News: AR filing deadline extends to 30 November 2024 for FY 23-24. Informed via EPR Portal

Challenges in Annual Filing: Portal Outages and Compliance Deadlines

In the Office Memorandum dated June 18th, there was some relief as we received news about an extension of the deadline for annual filing. However, as we approach the final date—September 30th—recent portal outage from 25th September to 27th September have raised significant concerns about the feasibility of completing compliance on time.

Addressing Technical Glitches on the EPR Portal: The Need for Improvement and an Amendment Module

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system in India, regulated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), has been a monumental step towards ensuring accountability for plastic waste management. However, as more producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs) navigate the EPR portal to meet their compliance obligations, several significant technical glitches have emerged across all types of entities.

The Need for Reintroducing the EPR Target Shifting Feature for Small Producers

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, introduced by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was designed to ensure producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs) manage the plastic waste generated by their products. In FY 22-23, the CPCB introduced a crucial feature at the time of Annual Returns—allowing entities to shift their EPR targets to registered counterparties. This helped alleviate the burden for many producers who faced inflated targets due to delays in registrations and unavailability of the EPR portal for some entities.

 The Awaited Features on the EPR Portal: A Critical Gap After the March 14th Amendment

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework underwent a significant overhaul with the amendment issued on March 14, 2024, marking a pivotal step forward in the country’s environmental regulations. This amendment introduced critical changes aimed at broadening the scope and bringing more stakeholders under the EPR compliance umbrella. The main highlights include:

Environmental Compensation under E-Waste Management Rules, 2022

The rapid advancement of technology has brought with it a significant increase in e-waste, including discarded electronic devices and appliances. To address the environmental challenges associated with improper handling of this waste, India has implemented stringent guidelines under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. These rules aim to manage and reduce e-waste effectively, protecting human health and the environment. Central to this framework is the concept of Environmental Compensation (EC), a penalty imposed for non-compliance with the regulations.

Current NEWS

MeitY’s Stand Against CPCB’s E-Waste Rules

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has recently expressed its opposition to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) proposed e-waste guidelines. The new regulations aim to introduce Minimum Flow Rate Recovery (MFRR) pricing, which sets minimum costs for processing and recycling e-waste in the telecom sector. While the CPCB’s objective is to promote environmental responsibility,

Nepal Adopts Innovative Bhopal’s Plastic Waste Management Model for Sustainable Employment Strategy

Nepal is taking significant steps towards sustainable development by focusing on effective plastic waste management and creating self-employment opportunities. The country is aiming to turn plastic waste into a source of sustainable livelihoods and actively involving local communities in conservation efforts.

Recent discussions between Nepalese officials and representatives from Bhopal have resulted in a promising agreement on technology transfer. This technology will enable the use of plastic waste in road construction, a method already being used in various regions of India. The initiative aims to manage plastic waste effectively and prevent it from polluting Indian rivers from the upper Himalayan region.

COLDPLAY – The excitement is off the charts, and sustainability shines just as bright!

Coldplay is doing something special with their Music of the Spheres tour. Not only is the music incredible, but they’re also changing the way we think about concerts!

The hype isn’t just about the music!

Fans everywhere are talking about how Coldplay is doing things differently. This tour is powered by renewable energy and filled with eco-friendly innovations.

Solar Tiles Made from Plastic Waste: A Step Towards Sustainable Energy and Waste Management

In a ground-breaking development for both renewable energy and waste management, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently presented with an innovative solar tile at the fourth Renewable Energy Investor Meet in Gujarat. What makes this solar tile unique is that it is crafted from plastic waste, offering a solution to two of the most pressing environmental challenges we face today—plastic pollution and the need for renewable energy.

The Carbon Emissions of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and How to Host Environmentally Friendly Events

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has been a massive success, but it also comes with a significant carbon footprint. In February 2024 alone, Swift’s private jet travel for 11 shows emitted about 393 metric tonnes of CO2—28 times more than the average American’s annual emissions. During the American leg of her tour, she travelled nearly 37,053 miles, generating 77 tonnes of CO2. The South American leg added another 61 tonnes, totalling 139 tonnes of CO2 from just these two legs of the tour. Swift’s overall travel emissions in 2022 amounted to 8,293 tonnes of CO2, over 1,100 times the average person’s annual emissions.

Tips

Untangling the MSME Target Fulfillment Conundrum

In the wake of recent updates on plastic packaging obligations under the notification dated March 14, 2024, a significant shift has occurred. According to the new guidelines, producers of plastic packaging, except for micro and small enterprises, are now obligated to meet targets set under these rules. However, this update has caused confusion, leaving small and micro enterprises uncertain about their responsibilities.