EPR stands for “Extended Producers Responsibility” Extended producer responsibility is an exercise and a policy method in which Producers take accountability for the organization of the disposal of products they create or produce when those products are designated as no longer useful by consumers or we can say EPR is the polluter pays principle in which the party responsible for producing pollution is chargeable for paying for the injury done to the natural surroundings.

The E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 introduced the concept of EPR for the first time in India, while the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 brought more stringent targets for the collection of end-of-life products and simplified the process of applying for EPR authorization.

Protecting Environment is Our Responsibility

To protect and improve the surrounding may be a constitutional mandate. It is widely accepted that the right to life under Article 21 also embraces the right to live in a wholesome, pollution-free environment. This has to be read in conjunction with Articles 48-A and 51-A (g) which impose a duty on the State to preserve and improve the environment. It makes the State as well as the citizens responsible for the preservation of the natural environment.

EPR Policy in India

The EPR policy, in India, places a responsibility on the State Governments to watch the makers, producers, and recyclers to guarantee that they comply with the standards and also confirm that they meet the targets of collection of the e-waste specified in the E-Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2018. Further, it also places responsibility upon the consumers of electronic devices to protect the environment against the harm caused by the devices upon their end-of-life under the take-back scheme. Thus, it affirms the constitutional duty to protect the environment.

The benefits of extended producer responsibility policies are also categorized as economic, environmental, and social.

Environmental motivations for extended producer responsibility include increasing product recyclability, decreasing the use of toxic components in products, and reducing the amount of material that is sent to a landfill or incinerator rather than reused or recycled. The recyclability of products is heavily dependent on product design. It is difficult to recycle products that are not designed for dismantling, have high levels of toxic ingredients, or have components such as composite resins that are problematic to recycle.  

Responsibility of Producer

• Implementing the Extended Producers Responsibility with the subsequent frameworks, namely: -
• Apply for the Extended Producer Responsibility authorization
• Assortment and direction of e-waste generated from the ‘end-of-life’ of their product or ‘end-of-life’ products with the same electrical and electronic equipment code.
• Providing TSDF Services in case of electrical equipment containing mercury elements.
• Providing contact details such as an address, e-mail address, toll-free telephone numbers or helpline numbers to consumers or bulk consumers.
• filing annual returns

When you have any authorization from a government body, then there are many forms of compliance that your company and its employees must uphold. “Compliance” refers to sticking to the rules. Meaning, you need to go with relevant legislation, as well as any internal or external standards. Not sticking to compliance can lead to penalty or cancellation of the authorization issued by the department.

A producer after having an EPR Authorization have to fulfil some compliances and these compliances are called EPR Compliances.

• Creating awareness about E-Waste through various methods
• Media
• Publications
• Newspaper
• Posters
• Awareness programme
• Seminar
• Digital Promotion
• Providing information on address, e-mail address, toll-free telephone numbers etc.
• Providing information on hazardous constituents
• Providing information on hazards of improper handling, disposal, accidental breakage, etc.
• Providing instructions for handling and disposal of the equipment after its use