Understanding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy approach where producers are given the responsibility for the entire lifecycle of the products they create, particularly the take-back, recycling, and final disposal.

EPR shifts the economic and environmental burden of waste management from governments and taxpayers to the producers.

Further Reading: White Paper on National EPR Framework by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute)

Origin of the Concept

The concept of EPR emerged in the early 1990s, introduced by Swedish academic Thomas Lindhqvist in a report to the Swedish Ministry of Environment. It was developed to encourage producers to design environmentally friendly products by making them accountable for their product’s end-of-life impact.

Further Reading: https://www.mmsk.ca/residents/history-epr/

Key Stakeholders in EPR

The different players in the EPR Cycle are as follows:

Producers
Consumers
Recycling companies
Waste management firms and
Government authorities

Producers by being at the forefront bear the onus of ensuring compliance with EPR regulations. Consumers play a role by participating in recycling programs(organized by the producer or recycling companies) while recycling companies and waste management firms handle the logistics of waste processing.

Government authorities oversee and enforce EPR policies.

Timeline of EPR Implementation Across the Globe

EPR policies began to be implemented in the 1990s in European countries and have since spread globally. The European Union adopted EPR within its waste directives, and other regions followed suit.

Further Reading: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/extended-producer-responsibility

EPR in India

India introduced EPR in the context of plastic waste management under the Plastic Waste Management Rules in 2016. This initiative aims to address the growing plastic waste crisis by making producers responsible for the collection and recycling of plastic waste.

Consequences of Non-Compliance to EPR

Failure to comply with EPR regulations can result in substantial fines, suspension of operations, or other legal penalties, depending on the jurisdiction.

The EPR Rules in India state that non-compliant businesses can be fined up to INR 1 lakh per day for each violation. Additionally, businesses may also be required to pay for the collection, transportation, and disposal of their products’ waste if they fail to fulfill their EPR obligations.

Further Reading: https://teamrecykal.medium.com/penalties-for-non-compliance-with-epr-regulations-in-india-5ad8f4bebd3f

EPR and the Circular Economy

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is integral to the circular economy as it leads to

Promoting resource efficiency
Waste reduction by encouraging producers to design products with longer lifespans, recyclability, and minimal environmental impact

Opportunities in EPR

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) presents various business and employment opportunities.

In line with the draft document of the National Resource Efficiency Policy, 2019 (India) – the focus for the circular economy was going to be on 6R – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse, Rethink, and Repair.

Small Businesses, Individuals, Startups, and Students can try to develop innovative solutions to further the 6R approach and aid waste management under the EPR concept.

Many organizations(including established firms) are coming up with job opportunities with roles linked to sustainability consulting, environmental compliance, and recycling operations.

By embracing EPR, we move closer to achieving a sustainable, circular economy, benefiting both the environment and the economy.

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