Sri Vijaya Puram June 10: To strengthen the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, all Producers, Importers, Brand Owners (PIBOs), and plastic waste processors are now required to register on a Centralized EPR Portal developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
This move comes in line with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s (MoEF&CC) 4th Amendment to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, dated February 16, 2022, which introduced ‘Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastic Packaging’ (Schedule II). The EPR framework mandates entities to ensure environmentally sound management of plastic packaging waste through recycling, reuse, co-processing, waste-to-energy, plastic-to-oil conversion, roadmaking, or industrial composting.
According to the latest amendment dated March 14, 2024, additional stakeholders such as manufacturers, importers, and sellers of plastic raw materials, including micro and small producers, are also required to register on the portal. This includes those involved in producing compostable and biodegradable plastics.
Entities operating in more than two States must register with the CPCB via the centralized portal https://eprplastic.cpcb.gov.in/, while those functioning in one or two States or Union Territories are required to register with the respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) or Pollution Control Committees (PCCs). Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs) must also comply with registration requirements under Section 13(3) of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
The Department has emphasized that producers, importers, sellers, and brand owners in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands must complete the registration process. Failure to comply will attract penal actions under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, including the imposition of Environmental Compensation.
For registration procedures, stakeholders can access the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for PIBOs and PWPs at SOP for PIBOs
The notification defines each entity type and urges immediate compliance to ensure responsible plastic waste management across the region.
