According to a recent media report, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2023 had unearthed more than 6,00,000 fake pollution-trading certificates from audits at four plastic-recycling companies.
- Between 2022-23, there were about 18,000 companies that use plastic packaging and were registered with the CPCB as either producers, importers or ‘brand-owners’.
Key points
- Under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, CPCB manages the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme.
- The Plastic Waste Management Rules mandate all companies that use plastic packaging to register with the CPCB. Not complying with these targets can invite fines.
- Certificates are generated by registered plastic waste recyclers, who collect plastic waste and recycle them.
- Every tonne of plastic recycled by them generates a certificate.
- EPR certificates are used by thousands of companies that use plastic packaging in some form for business operations and are legally obliged to either ensure that a prescribed percentage of the plastic used annually is collected and recycled, or that they buy enough certificates to make good on their targets.
- The mandated targets change every year. In 2022-23, for instance, companies were expected to recycle 70% of the packaging used in the previous two financial years. For 2023-24, it is 100%.
- Certificates generated by recycling companies are considered legitimate only if the recyclers are actually able to sell the recycled plastic.
