Workshop on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

A workshop on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as outlined under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, was conducted on 12th July 2024 at the DRDA Conference Hall, Dharamshala. The event was chaired by Shri Anil Joshi (IFS), Member Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB), in association with the District Administration Kangra, Municipal Corporation Dharamshala, Executive Officers and Secretaries of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Block Development Officers from the districts of Kangra, Hamirpur, and Chamba, NGOs, and Plastic Waste Processors.

At the outset, Shri Anil Joshi briefed the attendees on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility and the duties of ULBs and plastic waste processors as per the EPR Guidelines established by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in 2022. He informed the house that the Hon’ble High Court of Himachal Pradesh has acknowledged the necessity for effective implementation of EPR, particularly in the context of CPW No. 2369 of 2018, and is closely monitoring its progress. The challenges encountered during the implementation of the EPR guidelines were also discussed.

Following this, Shri Chandan Singh, Environment Engineer at the HP Pollution Control Board, delivered a detailed presentation on the EPR guidelines and the EPR Portal developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the registration of Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs), Producers, Importers, Brand Owners (PIBOs), and ULBs. The presentation covered the agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ULBs and PWPs, focusing on the exchange and transportation of plastic waste, its quality and quantity, and the issuance of EPR certificates.

Zaffar Iqwal, IAS, Municipal Commissioner of MC Dharamshala, provided an update on the current status of plastic waste management within the ULB. He emphasized that plastic waste will be channeled exclusively to registered PWPs and encouraged other ULBs to adopt the same practice. Sh. Saurab Jassal (IAS), Additional Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, instructed Block Development Officers (BDOs) to establish and maintain proper operations at Plastic Waste Management Units.

An NGO, Waste Warriors, which is engaged in waste collection, waste management consultancy, event waste management, and related projects in Dharamshala, shared their experiences. They highlighted the importance of integrating the rural sector into the Plastic EPR model.

The workshop was also attended by Shri Sanjeev Sharma, Senior Scientific Officer and In-charge of the Regional Laboratory Dharamshala, and Sh. Varun Gupta, Regional Officer of the HP State Pollution Control Board, Regional Office Dharamshala.