Extended producer responsibility makes the producer, importer or brand owner responsible for collecting and recycling the waste their product eventually becomes. Registration with the Central Pollution Control Board is mandatory, annual targets are assigned against the quantity you place on the market, and those targets must be met and reported. Enforcement has tightened considerably, and marketplaces now ask for the EPR number before listing.
Who needs this
- Manufacturers and importers of plastic packaging
- Brand owners whose products are sold in plastic packaging, even where packing is outsourced
- Producers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment
- Producers and importers of batteries
- Recyclers and refurbishers seeking authorisation
Documents required
This is the usual list. Depending on your state and your specific facts, an authority may ask for more — we tell you at the scope stage rather than midway through.
- Certificate of incorporation and constitution documents
- GST registration and PAN
- Consent to establish and consent to operate, for manufacturing units
- Import Export Code, for importers
- Details of products and quantity placed on the market
- Agreements with recyclers or collection partners
How we handle it
1. Category and liability
We identify which EPR regime applies to you and quantify the obligation from your actual production or import data.
2. Registration
The application is filed on the CPCB EPR portal for your category, with supporting documents.
3. Target planning
Annual targets are mapped against your obligation and a route to meeting them is planned — either through your own collection or through registered recyclers and certificates.
4. Annual returns
Returns are filed against the targets. Under-fulfilment attracts environmental compensation, so this is tracked through the year rather than at the deadline.
Fees and timeline
Brand owners are frequently caught out here. If your product is sold in plastic packaging, the obligation may attach to you even though a third party does the manufacturing and packing.
We quote after a short conversation rather than publishing a single number, because the honest answer depends on your state, your turnover and your category. Call +91 98999 00300 or send the details through the enquiry form.
Common questions
We only import. Does EPR apply?
Yes. Importers are covered under each of the plastic, e-waste and battery waste regimes.
What happens if targets are not met?
Environmental compensation is levied, and the shortfall is generally carried forward. It is materially cheaper to plan fulfilment than to pay compensation.
Are EPR certificates a valid route?
Purchasing certificates from registered recyclers is a recognised route to meeting targets. We can help you source from registered entities and verify them.
This page is general information, not advice on your facts. Rules, rates and due dates change. Government fees are payable to the concerned authority and are separate from our professional fees.