Objections To The Draft EPR Regulations 2021 Issued By The Union Ministry Of Environment, Forests And Climate Change
PREPARED BY
Malvika Kaushik, Vani Sharma and Leo F. Saldanha
Environment Support Group[1]
Plastic pollution is as much a public health emergency as an environmental one. Research shows the existence of massive plastic contamination, especially through microplastics, in floodplains,[2] salt-pans,[3] lake sediments,[4] and beaches across India.[5] This wide-ranging contamination has severe implications not only for wildlife but also communities dependent on these environments for food and water supplies.[6] Communities affected by plastic contamination face an increased risk of diseases and disorders, including cancers and endocrine disruption.[7] Microplastics are especially dangerous because they can act as carriers of other environmental contaminants, including heavy metals, and spread them further across the food chain.[8] In spite of these hazards, the government continues to promote and invest in the production of plastic. One recent initiative has been the systematic push to set up plastic parks, special industrial zones devoted to the production of plastic, and allied industries, across the country. Recently, the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals gave final approval for funding for six Plastic Parks in Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand, and approval is pending for four more in Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh.[9]
Through these comments, we wish to bring to your attention certain very serious limitations in the proposed Draft Regulations on Extended Producer Responsibility under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (“Draft Regulations”), addressing which could strengthen the proposed Extended Producer Responsibility (“EPR”) framework and equip it with the teeth it needs to tackle the gargantuan challenge of plastic pollution in India.
Lack of Accountability for Petrochemical Corporations, the Original Manufacturers of Plastic
An inordinate focus on the end-of-life impacts of plastic often leads us to forget that plastic has a range of environmental and climate impacts across its life cycle,[10] starting from its extraction from fossil fuels.[11] The same petrochemical corporations that are responsible for the climate crisis are also the ones fuelling the plastic crisis. The International Energy Association has reported that plastics and associated products accounted for 12% of the global demand for petrochemicals in 2018, and for 45% of the growth in global demand. This is set to increase to 60% by 2050 in the absence of serious action to address plastic use.[12] Thus, any attempt at defining EPR cannot be limited to holding accountable the manufacturers of plastic products and packaging for reduction, reuse and recycling of plastic. An effective EPR framework must also hold manufacturers of the base material from petrochemicals responsible for the overproduction of plastic. However, the scope of the Draft Regulations is limited to “Producers” and “Importers” of plastic packaging, although a commendable effort has been made to include “Brand Owners” and online marketplaces. Leaving the petrochemical industry out of the scope of the Draft Regulations allows a key player, one that is driving the growth of the industry, the opportunity to evade any responsibility or liability for the harm caused by their actions.
Incomplete Definitions under the Draft Regulations
It is also curious that the term “plastic packaging” itself is not defined under the Draft Regulations nor under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. Key descriptors that have been used in Regulation 5.2 and 7, such as “rigid packaging”, “flexible packaging” and “fresh plastic packaging” have not been defined. It is unclear whether the meaning of “plastic packaging” is limited to the terms “carry bags” and “plastic sheets”. It is also unclear if items such as those that ‘constitute or form an integral part of the packaging in which goods are sealed prior to use’, which are excluded from the definition of “carry bag”, would be considered “plastic packaging”. The term “EPR Target”, which is the crux of the Draft Regulations, has also not been defined. It is only upon a close reading of Regulation 7 that it becomes apparent that EPR targets are themselves percentages of total packaging generated, and targets for recycling and use of recycled packaging that are in themselves percentages of EPR targets.
The absence of clear definitions of such fundamental parts of the Draft Regulations makes enforcement or compliance extremely difficult. Additionally, there are definitional ambiguities with respect to “recyclers” and “Plastic Waste Processors”. The Draft Regulations define recyclers as “entities who are engaged in the process of recycling of plastic waste”; and Plastic Waste Processors as “recyclers and entities engaged in using plastic for energy (waste to energy) and converting it to oil (waste to oil).” This definition is ambiguously worded, as it is unclear whether it includes recyclers engaged in the business of washing, palletisation, grinding, or bailing plastics. Further, it appears to consider waste-to-energy and waste-to-oil as part of the recycling process, whereas in Regulations 7.2(c), 7.3(c), and 7.4(d), waste-to-energy and waste-to-oil are considered to be end-of-life disposal mechanisms.
Surplus Trading Mechanism Allows Evasion of Liability
The present mechanism under the Draft Regulations does not impose any actual obligations on Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (“PIBOs”) to reduce their plastic production and allows them to evade liability for pollution. The Draft Regulations set out annual targets for PIBOs to reuse/recycle plastic packaging. Regulation 8 allows PIBOs who have exceeded these targets to offset shortfalls in the previous year, carry forward credits for use in the succeeding year, or sell the credits to other PIBOs which have a shortfall. It also allows PIBOs to meet their target obligations for the year by purchasing EPR surplus certificates from other PIBOs. There are thus no real obligations on PIBOs to reduce their actual plastic production as long as they are able to purchase enough EPR surplus certificates to make up for their shortfall in targets.
The Draft Regulations also make it mandatory for PIBOs to purchase surplus certificates to meet their EPR obligations under the following circumstances:
● Where Producers and Brand Owners cannot meet their targets on use of recycled plastic on account of “statutory requirements”, CPCB may grant an exemption on a case-to-case basis. If so granted, the Producer/Brand Owner will have to meet its shortfall by purchasing a “certificate” of equivalent quantity from other PIBOs who have exceeded their recycling targets (Regulations 7.2 (d) and 7.4 (e)).
● Importers cannot meet their targets for use of recycled plastic through their actual imports. Instead, buying certificates of equivalent quantity from other PIBOs who have exceeded their recycling targets is the only way in which they can meet their requirements (Regulation 7.3 (d)).
The proposed mechanism in Regulation 8 and Regulations 7.2 (d) and 7.4 (e) above does not enforce compliance through criminal liability or obtain compensation for the damage caused by failure to recycle plastic. It instead allows other PIBOs to profit from the sale of EPR surplus certificates. Further, the requirements themselves are arbitrary. The “statutory requirement” under Regulations 7.2 (d) and 7.4 (e) explained above is vague and has not been defined. Further, the mandatory requirement on Importers to purchase EPR surplus certificates to meet their targets on use of recycled plastic can only be described as absurd.
We also note that the mechanism proposed is similar to carbon credit trading systems, which have been criticized as far back as 2006 for their ineffectiveness.[13] These systems reward heavy polluters with profits by allowing them to purchase carbon credits – or a “license to pollute”. We have seen that carbon credit systems have delayed the long-term structural changes and deep cuts in emissions needed to tackle climate change, and we are fearful of the same issues arising out of the proposed trading mechanism under the Draft Regulations.
Weak Compliance and Enforcement Mechanisms
The EPR obligations envisaged in the Draft Regulations are largely based on self-reporting of the quantities of packaging waste that would be collected and processed. Regulation 10.6 requires PIBOs to file annual returns on plastic packaging collected and processed as per their EPR obligations. A similar obligation is placed on “Plastic Waste Processors” under Regulation 11.2. Plastic Waste Processors undertaking end-of-life disposal of plastic packaging waste are also required to provide information themselves on the Central Pollution Control Board’s (“CPCB”) centralized portal under Regulation 11.10. In the case of end-of-life use of plastic waste in road construction, the PIBO is even allowed to provide a self-declaration certificate under Regulation 11.7.
Further, the whole mechanism of EPR targets is based on figures such as ‘average weight of plastic packaging material (category-wise and state-wise) sold in the last two financial years’ and ‘average quantity of pre-consumer plastic packaging waste in the last two financial years’. Yet, there is not even a self-reporting mechanism to declare these quantities so as to verify the declared EPR targets. It is only mentioned vaguely that the EPR target shall be provided by the PIBOs as part of Action Plans uploaded on the CPCB’s centralised portal, under Regulations 7.2(a), 7.3(a), and 7.4(a). Thus, there is serious doubt that the audit and verification mechanism specified in Regulations 12.4 and 13.1 to be carried out by the CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards (“SPCB(s)”) respectively will have any teeth. Indeed, the experience with self-reporting under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006 is a strong indicator of the inherent weakness of an environmental compliance regime that is primarily based on self-reporting without adequate checks and balances.[14]
We also note that the centralized online portal referred to above is an essential part of the compliance mechanism under the Draft Regulations. Allowing the information and Action Plans filed by PIBOs to be subject to public review and scrutiny would add an additional layer of accountability, and make the compliance mechanism more participative. However, the Draft Regulations do not mention whether the centralized portal would be publicly accessible, thus foreclosing the possibility of transparency.
The proposed enforcement mechanism relies heavily on levying environmental compensation for non-compliance with EPR targets (Regulations 9.2-9.4). It is also unclear on the extent and circumstances under which non-compliance would attract criminal liability, especially under Regulations 9.5-9.7. Even where criminal liability under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 is clearly provided for (such as for the furnishing of false and fabricated information under Regulation 9.1), the weak compliance and verification mechanism would lead to under-detection of such cases.
It is also a matter of concern that even where environmental compensation is being collected, a refund system has been created to accommodate PIBOs who “catch up” with their required targets in successive years (upto a period of three years). Regulation 9.5 allows that in such situations, specified percentages of the original compensation paid can be returned to the PIBO. This system will necessarily mean that the compensation collected cannot be fully utilised immediately upon collection, and will delay plastic waste management efforts, at great cost to public and environmental health.
Finally, Regulation 7.7 provides for a review of the functioning of the EPR mechanisms once every five years. Given the scale of the environmental and public health emergency posed by the plastic crisis, we submit that a five year period is too long for adequate review of progress. Instead, targets should be reviewed and upgraded on an annual or bi-annual basis.
Vague and Limited Constitution of EPR Supervisory Committee
There is no clarity regarding the constitution of the Committee headed by the CPCB Chairman that is tasked with monitoring the implementation of the EPR Regulations under Regulation 18. Though it is specified that representatives of various ministries, line departments and stakeholders such as PIBOs shall be part of the committee, there is no mandate on the exact number of representatives from various fields. Further, it is alarming that there is no mandate for the inclusion of representatives of Plastic Waste Processors in this committee. Plastic Waste Processors, who include formal and informal sector workers working in segregation, sorting and recycling, and other allied activities, bear the maximum health impacts of disposal and management of plastic waste. Their expertise is also crucial in ascertaining whether or not EPR mechanisms are actually successful in reducing the amount of plastic waste that is disposed of in a hazardous manner. Further, as we explain below, they bear the highest liability under the proposed EPR regime.
Unfair Distribution of Liability
Whereas an EPR regime should place the maximum liability on those most responsible for the plastic crisis and reap the largest financial gains from it, the proposed regime does quite the opposite. Petrochemical corporations responsible for the production of virgin plastic are let off the hook completely. In contrast, between Producers and Importers of packaging, Brand Owners, and Plastic Waste Processors, it is the last group – which is typically small or medium-scale in operation – for whom the most stringent penalties are envisaged. Under Regulation 11.4, Plastic Waste Processors may, in addition to criminal liability or payment of environmental compensation, also face debarring or revocation of registration for five years for furnishing false information to authorities, a condition which is not imposed on any other entity in the plastic management chain. The highest burden of waste management therefore falls squarely on the final actor in the life cycle of plastic, while other actors involved in direct production and dissemination can pay and continue polluting. That the surplus trading mechanism under Regulation 8 is available only to PIBOs is further evidence of this disparity.
Inadequate and Harmful End-of-Life Disposal Mechanisms
Regulation 5.2 lays out four mechanisms to deal with plastic packaging waste: (i) reuse; (ii) recycling; (iii) use of recycled plastic content, and; (iv) end-of-life plastic disposal. With respect to end-of-life plastic disposal, the following mechanisms are proposed: (i) waste-to-energy, (ii) waste-to-oil, (iii) cement kilns for co-processing, and (iv) road construction [Regulations 7.2(c), 7.3(c) and 7.4(c) read with Annexure, examples 1 to 3]. Some of these mechanisms have been incorporated into the EPR targets without a proper consideration of their harmful environmental impacts.
Waste-to-Energy (“WtE”) plants are known to cause intense, long-lasting, highly toxic and widespread air pollution. WtE incinerators release highly dangerous chemicals, furans and dioxins, which are triggering agents for cancer, and also produce hazardous bottom ash. Due to the toxicity and the wasteful consumption of electricity by WtE incinerators, the technology is slowly being phased out across the world. In 1995, the erstwhile Planning Commission in its ‘Report of the High Power Committee – Urban Solid Waste Management in India’ said on the viability of WtE plants that:
“Incinerators have proved unsuitable for most situations in India because of the nature of municipal waste – it is too high in moisture and organic content so that the waste has a low calorific value, such that it will not burn without the addition of an auxiliary fuel.”
In this context, we would like to draw attention to the fact that the Draft Regulations contain no obligations for maintaining a separate stream of plastic waste, with Regulation 10 merely stating that PIBOs “may” operate deposit refund / buy back schemes. Thus, it is likely that plastic waste would continue to be mixed with other kinds of waste, adding to the toxicity of WtE.
In this sense, it is directly contradicting the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, which, as you are aware, was a substantial improvement over the 2013 Draft SWM Rules which the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka was forced to stay[15] on the ground that it was violative of directions requiring segregation of waste at source, amongst others. This regulation takes us back to the 2013 situation, which is both retrograde and opposed to High Court rulings on the matter.
“Waste-to-Oil”, which is a form of chemical recycling, has similar issues. Sector specialists from the Bureau of International Recycling have described it as an “immature industry” that is ten years away from viability.[16] Like WtE, Waste-to-Oil also requires high energy inputs, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions.[17] It emits harmful toxic chemicals and carcinogens which could have severe adverse effects on local communities and on the environment, along with contributing to climate change.[18] Further, as the end goal of Waste-to-Oil is usually the production of fuel, the use of such fuel would also release greenhouse gases, further contributing to climate change.[19]
No obligation for establishment of specific plastic waste management mechanisms and infrastructure
The absence of mandatory provisions for specific mechanisms for EPR gravely undermines the efficacy of the proposed EPR regulations. Researchers have estimated that plastics and other materials cannot be reused at a significant scale without at least 90% mandatory collection and deposit return systems.[20] It is therefore worrying that Regulation 10.1 makes it optional for PIBOs to establish schemes such as ‘deposit refund system’ or ‘buy back’ . Similarly, Regulation 14.1 makes it optional for PIBOs to develop collection and segregation infrastructure for managing plastic packaging waste. Regulation 14.1 also ignores the existence of the present informal waste recycling economy: the recommendations for collection points and Material Recovery Facilities, if followed by PIBOs, would result in the creation of a parallel waste collection economy that would displace thousands of informal workers who are presently dependent on this sector.
The need of the hour is to ensure that plastic manufacturers and PIBOs are held accountable for financing the establishment, operation, and upgradation of dedicated plastic waste collection, aggregation and processing centers, including providing fair compensation for the operators of such centers. While this is done, the public utility functions of decentralised waste management centres must be recognised and maintained, by ensuring that they are owned and operated by waste workers from the informal sector.
Non-adherence to Constitutional Mandate for Local Governance
The 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution, which deal with rural and urban local governments respectively, require that matters such as plastic waste management and regulation, and EPR, are governed by local authorities with powers of planning resource use and environmental conservation. However, the Draft Regulations lay out a highly centralised system of regulatory oversight, completely ignoring the role envisaged for local governments under the Constitution.
Other Omissions
It is critical to appreciate that the failure of environmental regulation in the country, indicative in the fact that most Public Interest Litigations are on environmental concerns, is the outcome of keeping local communities, the public at large, and local governments outside processes and procedures of environmental oversight and regulatory control. The Draft Regulations repeat this error, and this is likely to result in extensive pollution by plastics in coastal areas, rivers and streams, lakes and other wetlands, mountains and forests. The Draft Regulations also ignore the role of plastic waste, for instance, disposed plastic containers, in the spread of vector-borne diseases. The need of the hour is to prioritise environmental safety, regulation and public health over corporate interests, which the Draft Regulations fail to do.
[Inputs received from Pinky Chandran, Founding Member, Solid Waste Management Roundtable and Trustee, Hasiru Dala have been included.]
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[9] Government says eight plastic parks at various stages of development: Mansukh Mandaviya, The Hindu (November 30, 2021)
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/government-says-eight-plastic-parks-at-various-stages-of-development-mansukh-mandaviya/article37768747.ece (last accessed December 2, 2021); India Brand Equity Foundation, Indian Plastics Industry and Exports, https://www.ibef.org/exports/plastic-industry-india.aspx (last accessed December 2, 2021).
[10] Tengku Nuraiti, Tengku Izhar and Yap Voon May, Life Cycle Analysis of Plastic Packaging 2020 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth and Environmental Science 616 012036
[11] Centre for International Environmental Law et al, Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet, May 2019, available at <https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Plastic-and-Climate-FINAL-2019.pdf> (last accessed December 2, 2021).
[12] International Energy Agency, The Future of Petrochemicals (2018). Available at: https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-petrochemicals (last accessed December 2, 2021).
[13] Lohmann, Larry Lohmann, A licence to carry on polluting? 2006 New Scientist 2580.
[14] For further reference, see Leo F. Saldanha et al, Green Tapism: A Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification 2006 (2007, Environment Support Group).
[15] WP 46523/2012 (Environment Support Group and ors. Vs. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and ors.), c/w WP 24739/2012 before the Hon’ble HIgh Court of Karnataka.
[16] Joshua Doherty, ‘Chemical recycling of plastics ‘10 years away’, Let’s Recycle, 21 October 2012. Available at: https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/chemical-recycling-of-plastics-10-years-away/ (last accessed December 2, 2021).
[17] GAIA, Chemical recycling: Distraction, not solution (2020). Available at: https://www.no-burn.org/
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[18] Andrew N. Rollinson, Fire, explosion and chemical toxicity hazards of gasification energy from waste 2018 Vol. 54 Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries 273.
[19] Greenpeace, Throwing away the future: how companies still have it wrong on plastic pollution ‘solutions’ (2019). Available at: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/report-throwingaway-the-future-false-solutions-plastic-pollution-2019.pdf#FalseSolutions2019.indd%3A.94634%3A1531 (last accessed December 2, 2021).
[20] Changing Markets Foundation, ‘Talking Trash: The corporate playbook of false solutions to the plastic crisis’ (2020).