India's waste economy long ran on a linear model with no structural accountability, so plastic waste routinely ended up in landfills or the open environment. The EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) Rules of 2016 made producers responsible for the post-consumer life of their own plastic, but the policy lacked an operational bridge to deliver it. IPCA became that bridge as India's first pioneer in EPR, launching the EPR initiative and formalizing its existing network of rag pickers into a structured, documented collection system and connecting the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and brand owners to the ground-level reality of plastic waste collection for the first time.
Conceptualization:
In 2016, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rule marked a significant shift in waste management practices in India. IPCA stepped in as a bridge between the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and brand owners, facilitating the implementation of EPR services. IPCA leveraged its existing network with rag pickers to provide expertise in collection and channelization of plastic waste to respective recyclers. On behalf of the brand owners, IPCA formalized the rag pickers to collect and manage the plastic waste target, successfully collecting and channelizing 650 MT of plastic waste. This achievement was documented in an action plan, and IPCA submitted the first-ever EPR action plan to CPCB, pioneering EPR services and enabling brand owners to comply with regulatory requirements.
Uniqueness:
Our EPR services stand out as a pioneering approach, being the first registered Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). A notable uniqueness is the network of 30,000+ formalized waste workers across India, who play a crucial role in streamlining the waste collection and channelization. Furthermore, we have established a supply chain for Multi-layered Plastic (MLP) waste, previously considered non-recyclable. Our EPR services encompass timely documentation, expert consultancy, and end-to-end waste management, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements for EPR obligations.