Products Covered Under EPR in India: Your Guide to Compliance

Imagine a world where every product, from the plastic bottle in your hand to the smartphone in your pocket, is designed with its end-of-life in mind. In India, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is making this vision a reality by holding Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) accountable for managing their products’ waste. From packaging to electronics, batteries to tyres, and even emerging sectors like textiles, EPR regulations are reshaping how businesses operate in a circular economy. This blog provides a comprehensive overview of the products covered under India’s EPR framework, detailing their categories, regulatory requirements, and global parallels. Whether you’re a manufacturer, retailer, or sustainability enthusiast, understanding these products is key to easily navigating EPR compliance.

The Scope of EPR in India

EPR in India, governed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), mandates PIBOs to manage specific waste streams under regulations like the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (amended 2022), E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, and Hazardous Waste Rules, 2022. These rules target products with significant environmental impact, ensuring they are collected, recycled, or disposed of responsibly. Globally, similar frameworks address these and other waste types, offering lessons for India’s evolving system. Let’s explore the key product categories covered under EPR in India and their international counterparts.

1. Plastic Packaging

Due to its widespread use and environmental impact, plastic packaging is a primary focus of India’s EPR framework. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2022, categorize plastics into four types, each with specific compliance targets.

• Categories and Examples:

  • Category I (Rigid Plastics): Hard plastics like PET bottles, containers, and jars (e.g., water bottles, shampoo bottles).

  • Category II (Flexible Plastics): Single-layer or multilayer films, pouches, and bags (e.g., snack packets, plastic carry bags).

  • Category III (Multilayer Plastics): Packaging with plastic and non-plastic layers (e.g., multilayer sachets for ketchup, toothpaste tubes).

  • Category IV (Compostable Plastics): Biodegradable plastics for bags or packaging (e.g., compostable grocery bags).

• EPR Requirements:

  • Collection: 100% collection of plastic packaging introduced by 2023-24.

  • Recycling: 80% for Categories I and IV, 60% for Categories II and III by 2027-28.

  • Reuse: 85% for large rigid packaging (≥4.9 liters/kg) by 2028-29.

  • Recycled Content: 60% for Category I, 20% for Category II, 10% for Category III by 2028-29.

  • EPR Credits: Priced at ₹1–₹10 per kg (₹1–₹5 for rigid, ₹5–₹10 for multilayer).

• Applications in India:

  • FMCG brands collect PET bottles via deposit refund schemes.

  • E-commerce platforms manage flexible plastic packaging through Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs).

• Global Context:

  • EU: The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive mandates 65% recycling for plastics by 2025, with urban deposit systems for PET bottles (e.g., Germany’s Pfand).

  • Japan: Plastic EPR focuses on single-use plastics in retail, with 80% recycling rates in urban areas.

  • South Africa: Rural EPR programs target flexible plastics via community collection points.

• Example: A beverage brand in India collected 10,000 MT of PET bottles in 2024 via PROs, earning ₹50 lakh in credits at ₹5 per kg.

2. E-Waste

Electronic and electrical equipment, or e-waste, is a growing concern due to its toxic components and valuable recyclable materials. The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 cover 21 categories of e-waste.

• Categories and Examples:

• Information Technology and Telecommunication Equipment (ITEW): Laptops, desktops, printers (e.g., Dell laptops, HP printers).

• Consumer Electrical and Electronics (CEEW): TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners (e.g., Samsung TVs, LG fridges).

• Other Categories: Medical devices, lighting equipment (e.g., LED bulbs, X-ray machines).

• EPR Requirements:

• Collection: 50% by 2025, 70% by 2028.

• Recycling: Channel e-waste to authorized dismantlers for material recovery (e.g., gold, copper).

• Reporting: Annual returns (Form-1) by June 30 via the CPCB portal.

• EPR Credits: Priced at ₹5–₹15 per kg depending on material value.

• Applications in India:

• Smartphone brands run buyback programs for old devices.

• Appliance manufacturers partner with PROs like Karo Sambhav for recycling.

• Global Context:

• South Korea: The Resource Circulation Act achieves 85% e-waste recycling in urban tech hubs, using retail take-back systems.

• Canada: Electronics Product Stewardship programs in rural areas collect e-waste via municipal depots.

• Nigeria: Emerging EPR for e-waste in urban markets like Lagos focuses on informal sector integration.

• Example: An electronics importer recycled 5,000 MT of e-waste in 2024 through a PRO, earning ₹1 crore in credits at ₹10 per kg.

3. Battery Waste

Batteries, due to their hazardous components, are regulated under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, covering various chemistries.

• Categories and Examples:

• Lead-Acid Batteries: Used in vehicles, inverters (e.g., car batteries).

• Lithium-Ion Batteries: Found in smartphones, EVs (e.g., laptop batteries).

• Nickel-Cadmium and Other Batteries: Used in industrial applications (e.g., emergency lighting batteries).

• EPR Requirements:

• Collection: 90% for lead-acid by 2026, 70% for lithium-ion by 2027.

• Recycling: Minimum recovery rates (e.g., 95% for lead-acid) via authorized facilities.

• EPR Credits: Priced at ₹5–₹20 per kg based on chemistry and recycling complexity.

• Applications in India:

• Battery manufacturers use deposit refund schemes for vehicle batteries.

• EV companies partner with PROs for lithium-ion recycling.

• Global Context:

• Sweden: Battery EPR achieves 95% collection for lead-acid batteries in urban and rural areas via retail drop-offs.

• China: Lithium-ion EPR thrives in industrial zones, with 60% recycling rates for EV batteries.

• Australia: Rural battery EPR uses mobile collection units for agricultural equipment.

• Example: A battery producer collected 2,000 MT of lead-acid batteries in 2024 via DRS, earning ₹2 crore in credits at ₹10 per kg.

4. Tyre Waste

End-of-life tyres (ELTs) are regulated under the Hazardous Waste Rules, 2022 due to their environmental impact and recycling potential.

• Categories and Examples:

  • Tyres from vehicles (e.g., car, truck, or two-wheeler tyres).

  • Includes imported tyres and those produced domestically.

• EPR Requirements:

  • Collection and Recycling: 100% by 2025, via retreading, crumb rubber production, or pyrolysis.

  • Reporting: Annual returns to CPCB/SPCBs.

  • EPR Credits: Priced at ₹5–₹15 per kg based on recycling method.

• Applications in India:

  • Tyre manufacturers run exchange programs for ELTs.

  • PROs manage tyre recycling for importers and retailers.

• Global Context:

• Brazil: Tyre EPR in urban areas recycles 90% of ELTs into rubberized asphalt.
• South Africa: Rural EPR programs convert tyres into playground surfaces.
• USA: Industrial EPR uses pyrolysis for tyre-derived fuel in cement plants.

• Example: A tyre manufacturer recycled 3,000 MT of ELTs in 2024 via pyrolysis, earning ₹3 crore in credits at ₹10 per kg.

5. Emerging Sectors

India is expanding EPR to new product categories, reflecting global trends toward broader waste management.

 1. Textile Waste:

• Status: Proposed EPR under discussion by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for post-consumer textiles (e.g., clothing, upholstery).
• Applications: Would target apparel brands and retailers, focusing on recycling cotton and synthetic fabrics.
• Global Context:
  France: Refashion manages textile EPR, collecting 200,000 tonnes annually in urban areas.
  Bangladesh: Pilot EPR programs in garment hubs recycle textile scraps.
• Example: India’s proposed textile EPR could mirror France’s model, targeting fast-fashion brands.

2. Glass Waste:

• Status: Draft guidelines under MoEFCC for glass packaging (e.g., beverage bottles, jars).
• Applications: Would apply to beverage and pharmaceutical industries, emphasizing reuse and recycling.
• Global Context:
  Germany: Glass EPR achieves 85% recycling via deposit systems in urban retail.
  Mexico: Rural glass EPR uses community collection for bottle reuse.
• Example: India’s draft guidelines may mandate 70% glass recycling by 2030.

3. Oil Packaging Waste:

• Status: MoEFCC initiatives propose EPR for lubricant and edible oil containers (e.g., plastic or metal cans).
• Applications: Would target oil manufacturers and food brands, focusing on plastic and metal recycling.
• Global Context:
  Australia: EPR for oil containers in industrial zones recycles 60% of packaging.
  India’s Neighboring Context: Sri Lanka pilots oil packaging EPR in urban markets.
• Example: India’s proposed EPR could require 50% collection of oil containers by 2030.

Challenges in Managing EPR Products

1. Diverse Requirements: Each product category has unique targets and recycling processes.
   Solution: SORT Consultancy provides product-specific compliance plans.
   
   
2. Infrastructure Gaps: Limited facilities for multilayer plastics or lithium-ion batteries.
   Solution: Partner with PROs or advocate for recycling hubs.
   
   
3. Emerging Sectors: Lack of finalized guidelines for textiles, glass, and oil packaging.
   Solution: SORT Consultancy keeps you ahead with regulatory updates.
   
   
4. Consumer Awareness: Low participation in take-back programs.
   Solution: SORT designs awareness campaigns.
   
   

Why EPR Product Coverage Matters

Understanding EPR-covered products is crucial for:

• Compliance: Meeting targets like 100% plastic collection or 90% battery collection.

• Sustainability: Supporting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

• Market Edge: Enhancing brand appeal, with 70% of Indian consumers favoring sustainable companies (2024 Nielsen survey).

• Economic Growth: Driving the EPR market from $1.5 billion in 2025 to $5 billion by 2030 (20% CAGR).

By mastering EPR for these products, PIBOs can lead in sustainability and profitability.

Conclusion

India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework covers a wide array of products—plastic packaging, e-waste, batteries, tyres, and emerging sectors like textiles, glass, and oil packaging. Each category demands tailored strategies to meet stringent targets, from recycling 80% of rigid plastics to collecting 90% of lead-acid batteries. Drawing from global models like Germany’s glass EPR or France’s textile programs, India is paving the way for a circular economy.

SORT Consultancy is your trusted partner in navigating EPR for any product. From compliance strategies to credit trading, we offer tailored solutions to ensure your success. Contact us today at info@sortconsultancy.com or +91 9321021251 to master EPR and build a sustainable future.