Page 9 - Plastics News October 2021

FRoM THE EDIToR'S PEN

The Policy Prognosis

At the onset I would like to congratulate the new Office Bearers team headed by the new President
Shri Kishore Sampat and further I take this opportunity to thank the Managing committee for
having me continue for yet another term as the Editor
Also my heart felt condoloscences to the family of Late Shri Harilal L. Boolani, a stalwart, who
had served AIPMA all these years and its very unfortunate to have lost him., its a personal loss for
me as well.

While the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman thinks that the country is looking at near
close to double-digit growth this year, and India will be one of the fastest-growing economies, the
recent draft EPR Notification seems to have sent everyone into a tizzy.

The Environment Ministry has issued draft rules that mandate producers of plastic packaging
material to collect all of their produce by 2024 and ensure that a minimum percentage of it be
recycled as well as used in subsequent supply. It has also specified a system whereby makers and Mr. Rajiv B.Tolat
users of plastic packaging can collect certificates called’ Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
certificates’ and trade in them. The notification is expected to come into force by December 6 and,
as of now, is open to public feedback.

Plastic packaging, as per the rules made public on October 6, fall into three categories: The first
is “rigid” plastic; second is “flexible plastic packaging of single layer or multilayer and the third
category is called multi-layered plastic packaging, which has at least one layer of plastic and at least
one layer of material other than plastic. Also only a fraction of multi-layered multi-material plastics
will be eligible to be sent for end-of-life disposal and here too, only methods prescribed by the
Central Pollution Control Board will be permitted for their disposal.
However, Producers of plastic will be obliged to declare to the government, via a centralised website,
how much plastic they produce annually. Companies will have to collect at least 35% of the target
in 2021-22, 70% by 2022-23 and 100% by 2024.
As the policy anticipates in 2024, a minimum 50% of their rigid plastic (category 1) will have to
be recycled as will 30% of their category 2 and 3 plastic. Every year will see progressively higher
targets and after 2026-27, 80% of their category 1 and 60% of the other two categories will need
to be recycled. There are similar targets, with slight variations, for companies that use packaging
material as well as import them.
For a change Non-compliance, however, will not invite a traditional fine. Instead an “environmental
compensation” will be levied, though the rules do not specify how much this compensation will be.
Entities that do not meet their targets or do not purchase enough credits to meet their annual target
must pay a fine. Were they to meet their targets within three years, they stand to get a 40% refund.

While this is (still considered to be) at nascent stage, personally, I think it’s a wishful thinking and
lot many efforts would be needed to put the system in place. AIPMA as usual would be deliberating
on this as well across the stakeholders, for the larger interest, and one might have to wait and watch
for the final Policy outcome.

Rajiv B.Tolat
Hon. Editor
publication@aipma.net

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