Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate releases the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022. As per legal amendment the guidelines on extended procedure responsibility for plastic packaging have been defined. The update involves:

A framework for implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility.
Roles and responsibilities of Producers, Importers, Brand Owners.
Roles and responsibilities of recyclers and waste processors.
Roles and responsibilities of Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committees for effective implementation of EPR.
Registration of PIBOs as well as waste processors to be done by the SPCB or PCC through a centralized EPR portal developed by the CPCB.
All the PIBOs to provide an action plan including EPR target, along the application for registration or renewal of registration under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 20
SOPs for registration to be developed by the CPCB.
The Plastic waste processors to submit annual returns after end of every financial year by 30th April of the next financial year on the quantity of plastic waste processed category-wise as per prescribed pro forma on the centralized portal developed by Central Pollution Control Board.
The total quantity of plastic waste processed by waste processors and attributed to Producers, Importers & Brand-Owners, on an annual basis, will be made available on the centralized portal developed by CPCB.
The new rules classify plastics into four categories:

Category 1 – rigid plastic packaging
Category 2 – flexible plastic packaging of a single layer or multilayer (more than one layer with different types of plastic), plastic sheets and covers made of plastic sheets, carry bags, plastic sachets, or pouches.
Category 3 – Multi-layered plastic packaging (at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material other than plastic)
Category 4 – plastic sheet used for packaging as well as carry bags made of compostable plastics.

Taxes to be levied based upon the polluter pays principle, with respect to non-fulfillment of EPR targets by producers, importers, and brand owners, for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing, controlling, and abating environmental pollution.
Constitution of a committee which shall be by CPCB under the chairpersonship of their member, to recommend measures to the environment ministry for effective implementation of EPR, including amendments to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines.

Date of Release – 16.02.2022

Applicable – Plastic Manufacturers, Plastic Products Producers, Plastic Product Users, Plastic Recycling Agency, Plastic Waste Handling Units

Download – Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022