Plastic Waste Authorization

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Get Plastic Waste Authorization in India

Plastic waste authorization is a certification that allows businesses to legally collect, store, transport, process, or recycle plastic waste in India. Plastic waste refers to any discarded plastic material that has no further use or value. Plastic waste can pose serious threats to human health and the environment, as it can leach toxic chemicals, clog drains, choke animals, and pollute water bodies. Therefore, proper management and disposal of plastic waste is essential to prevent its adverse impacts.

In India, the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended in 2018, are the main legal framework for regulating the plastic waste sector. These rules aim to promote the environmentally sound management of plastic waste, reduce its generation, and encourage its reuse, recycling, and recovery. The rules also assign responsibilities and obligations to various stakeholders, such as producers, consumers, local bodies, waste pickers, collection centers, and recyclers, to ensure the effective implementation of the plastic waste management system.

According to the rules, any entity that is engaged in the collection, storage, transport, processing, or recycling of plastic waste is required to obtain an authorization from the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Union Territory Pollution Control Committee (UTPCC). The authorization is granted based on the compliance with the standards and guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Who can apply?

Any entity that is involved in the collection, storage, transport, processing, or recycling of plastic waste can apply for plastic waste authorization. The entity can be a company, a partnership firm, a society, a trust, an association, or an individual. The entity can be a producer, a consumer, a bulk consumer, a collection center, a processor, or a recycler of plastic waste.

What is the procedure for Plastic Waste Authorization?

The procedure for plastic waste authorization involves the following steps:

• 1: The applicant has to submit an online application form along with the necessary documents, such as the certificate of incorporation, the proof of ownership or lease of the premises, the details of the machinery and equipment, the environmental management plan, the consent to establish and operate, etc.
• 2: The SPCB or UTPCC will verify the application and the documents and conduct an inspection of the premises to assess the suitability and capacity of the applicant.
• 3: The SPCB or UTPCC will issue the authorization or reject the application within 120 days of the receipt of the complete application.
• 4: The authorization is valid for a period of five years from the date of issue and can be renewed for another five years by submitting a renewal application at least 120 days before the expiry of the authorization.
• 5: The authorization holder has to comply with the conditions and terms of the authorization, such as maintaining records and registers, submitting annual returns, following the best practices and norms, etc.

What is the validity and renewal of Authorization?

The plastic waste authorization is valid for a period of five years from the date of issue. The authorization holder can apply for renewal of the authorization at least 120 days before the expiry of the authorization. The renewal application has to be submitted online along with the updated documents and the proof of compliance with the authorization conditions and terms. The SPCB or UTPCC will renew the authorization or reject the application within 120 days of the receipt of the complete application. The renewal authorization is also valid for a period of five years from the date of issue.

Cancellation, suspension, or revocation

The SPCB or UTPCC can cancel, suspend, or revoke the plastic waste authorization if the authorization holder:

• 1 : Fails to comply with the conditions and terms of the authorization
• 2 : Fails to submit the annual returns or the renewal application
• 3 : Provides false or misleading information or documents
• 4 : Causes or is likely to cause environmental damage or harm to human health
• 5 : Violates any provision of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and 2018 or any other applicable law

What are the mandatory compliance?

The plastic waste authorization holder has to comply with the following mandatory compliance:

• The authorization holder has to maintain records and registers of the plastic waste generated, processed, or recycled by them, such as the quantity, category, source, destination, mode of transportation, etc.
• The authorization holder has to submit annual returns to the SPCB or UTPCC and the CPCB by the 31st day of January every year, containing the details of the plastic waste generated, processed, or recycled by them in the previous calendar year.
• The authorization holder has to follow the standards and guidelines issued by the CPCB and the MoEFCC for plastic waste management, such as collection, storage, transport, processing, recycling, disposal, etc.
• The authorization holder has to ensure the health and safety of the workers and the public involved in the plastic waste activities, such as providing personal protective equipment, training, medical check-ups, etc.
• The authorization holder has to ensure environmental protection and pollution control during plastic waste activities, such as preventing the release of hazardous substances, minimizing waste generation, maximizing resource recovery, etc.
• The authorization holder has to follow the best practices and norms for plastic waste management, such as extended producer responsibility, collection and channelization, segregation and transportation, etc.

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