Around 2.26 million tonnes plastic packaging covered under EPR: Environment Ministry

New Delhi: In order to phase out the single use plastic, a total of 2.26 million tonnes plastic packaging of has been covered under Extended Producer Responsibility EPR for the year 2022-23 stated the Union Environment Ministry on Friday.

The Ministry had notified the EPR guidelines on 16th February 2022 for tackling unmanaged and littered plastic waste.

The guidelines work on two pillars, first is enforcement of ban on identified single use plastic items, which cannot be collected, and second one the implementation of extended producer responsibility on plastic packaging.

The Guidelines stipulated mandatory targets on EPR, recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packaging and use of recycled plastic content.

The Guidelines also mandated implementation of EPR on plastic packaging through a centralized online portal developed by CPCB in order to ensure ease of doing business while complying with statutory obligations.

As per the Ministry, around 310 Producers, Importers and Brand Owners (PIBOs) registered for EPR and the number of PIBOs registered on the centralized EPR portal on plastic packaging has gone up to around 5400 PIBOs, till date.

To curb pollution caused by littered and un-managed plastic waste was taken on 1st July 2022, when the ban was imposed on identified single use plastic items, which have high littering potential and low utility, throughout the country.

As per estimate total plastic waste generated in the country during the year 2019-20 is around 3.4 million tonnes.

To give the momentum the State Governments have been taking initiatives in promotion of eco-alternatives to banned single use plastic items.

All thirty-six States/UTs have constituted the Special Task Force under the chairpersonship of the Chief Secretary / Administrator for elimination of identified single use plastic items and effective plastic waste management.

A National Level Taskforce has also been constituted by MoEFCC for taking coordinated efforts to eliminate identified single use plastic items and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. Four meetings of the National Task Force have been held so far.

These initiatives are in line with the Lifestyle For Environment (LiFE) mission. Some states have set up “Bartan Bhandars” at village panchayat levels for use in events in place of banned single use plastic cutlery promoting reuse cutlery rather than using disposable cutlery.

Self Help Groups have been mobilized in the states to stitch cloth bags and in some cases cloth bag vending machines have been set up in market places.

Some State Governments have taken up voluntary measures to make government offices and market places single use plastic free.