Extended Producer Responsibility
also known as EPR, is a critical environmental policy tool that is used for holding brands/manufacturers responsible for the end-of-life management of their products.
This implies that any firm is responsible not just for the production and sales of its goods, but also for the impact those goods have on the environment throughout their life-cycle i.e. from the ‘design stage’ to ‘end-of-life’.
In India, the E-Waste Management Rules of 2016 are based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility.
These e-waste rules make any brand/importer that sells/imports electrical and electronic equipment in India, responsible for the collection and environmentally safe recycling/disposal of that equipment once the consumer considers it obsolete.
If the E-Waste Management Rules 2016 are applicable to your company, your firm will need EPR Authorization from the Central Pollution Control Board to continue your business operations in India.
To get EPR Authorisation, your firm needs to submit an Action Plan detailing the e-waste collection and safe mechanisms .
Once approved, your firm will be allocated annual/monthly/quarterly ‘waste collection’ targets in its EPR Authorization form. These ‘collection targets’ refer to the quantity of e-waste your firm has to collect and recycle/dispose in an environment friendly manner on its behalf.
EPR in E-Waste Management
How can WEEE-PRO help?
WEEE-PRO is a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) as defined under the E-Waste Management Rules of 2016.
If the E-Waste Management Rules of 2016 are applicable to your firm, WEEE-PRO is authorised by the Central Pollution Control Board to design and implement Extended Producer Responsibility Action Plans on your firm’s behalf to fulfil its mandatory collection and recycling targets as mentioned in its Extended Producer Responsibility Authorization Plan.