The issue of waste management isn’t new and has been dealt with for years. Unscientific treatment, inappropriate waste collection, and littering are the key issues influencing solid waste management. As a result, problems such as environmental degradation, water pollution, soil pollution, and air pollution arise. According to reports, urban India generates almost 62 million metric tons of solid waste each year, out of which, around 3.4 million metric tonnes is plastic waste.
This waste when left untreated or discarded into landfills or oceans becomes problematic for humans and other natural resources. In light of this recurring issue, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has been designed and implemented by Policy makers in several countries. Let’s discuss it in fine detail.
Extended Producer Responsibility
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a specified policy instrument that supports the circular economy, reduces the environmental impact of plastic product and packaging, and promotes the “polluter pays” principle by holding the producer liable for the full product’s lifecycle. It is a policy for the management of generated waste. Under this policy, Producers, Importers & Brand Owners (PIBO) are given a critical onus for the collection, segregation, treatment, and disposal of post-consumer plastic products. The policy in turn award incentives to PIBOs to prevent or mitigate the waste generated or disposed of. This works with an aim to lookout the waste generated and its discarding in oceans, landfills, etc. where it cannot be recycled or processed. The goal is to create an effective and efficient system that handles the post-consumer waste from collection to scientific disposal. IPCA is also actively working on this goal with its
project EPR. Your EPR liabilities are in safe hands!
IPCA, a recognized PRO, provides services like EPR action plan execution, advocacy, networking & capacity building for collection, segregation, transportation and scientific disposal of plastic waste. At present, working across the nation and successfully executing Project EPR in 34 states and UTs. In the financial year 2021-22, so far IPCA has successfully collected & processed over 63,000 MT of plastic waste from various corners of India. We have set-up our waste recycling facility in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh and have partnered with 334 recognized organizations from different parts of the country. IPCA has the capacity to collect, segregate, process, and manage over 15,000 MT of waste generated per month! We have established a strong network of authorized recyclers and co-processors throughout India and is in agreement with more than 100 ULBs. Sustainable Waste Management is neither a responsibility of one organization, nor of a single
person but if each one of us do our bit, we can and we will achieve this goal certainly. Even little effort towards waste management can bring significant changes!