What is EPR?
Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR is the commitment made by a producer to facilitate a reverse collection mechanism and recycling of end of life, post-consumer waste. The objective is to circle it back into the system to recover resources embedded in the waste.
In the last few years, India has framed laws which have introduced the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging waste and e-waste. Saahas Zero Waste (SZW) assists manufacturers and brand owners in the reverse logistics of these waste categories.
We have over 8 years of experience in helping national and multinational brands manage their Extended Producer Responsibility in India. We have developed an extensive collection network that includes consumers and the informal sector. SZW has also formally collaborated with authorised recyclers and end destinations. Our MIS system enables us to capture data and prepare detailed reports for our customers.
What is a PRO?
The waste generators such as brand owners/producers are required to collect back the end of life waste generated through their business. This responsibility is met through waste collection agencies who are recognised as a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO).
SZW is a Central Pollution Control Board registered PRO for e-waste.
Components of our EPR model
Reverse logistics
SZW has a well-defined reverse supply chain that allows effective transportation of post-consumer waste to the authorised end destination
Social inclusion
SZW has innovative social inclusion models where informal waste workers will be able to meet the costs of compliance through incentives against delivering results.
Public awareness
SZW conducts extensive awareness programmes which include social media campaigns, corporate events and collection drives.
Categories of waste
SZW currently manages the following categories of waste for its EPR clients
Plastic Waste
Multi Layered Plastic (MLP)
Most companies use Multi Layered Plastic packaging for snacks, chocolates and biscuit wrappers. This consists of plastic combined with other materials such as paper, paper board, polymeric materials, metalized layers or aluminium foil. This packaging helps in safe storage of perishables, but the designers have not given enough thought to recycling solutions for MLP. Most of the MLP is currently being land-filled or illegally dumped across the country, causing a serious threat to the environment.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Polyethylene Terephthalate, commonly called as PET is a universally used packaging material that has a high potential to get recycled. At SZW, we aim to recover PET from the waste collected through various sources and gets diverted to recycling factories where it gets converted to recycled yarn. This then gets made into recycled products like t-shirts, bags, caps etc.
E-Waste
In 2018, India generated an estimated 18.5 lakh tonnes of e-waste. This is expected to increase to 50 lakh tonnes by 2020. These electronic products contain thousands of various metals. Some of these metals are precious, like gold and copper. However, there are also highly toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium. Currently, the informal sector handles over 95% of all the e-waste in India.
If you are a company looking for services related Extended Producer Responsibility in India, get in touch with us to know how we can help you. Information on the toll-free number, customer care number, partner dismantler(s) and recycler(s), list of collection centres, list of collection points and details of partner reverse logistics partner can be found here.
