Core EPR Concepts
A
Extended Producer Responsibility EPR
A policy approach that makes producers — manufacturers, importers, brand owners — legally responsible for the end-of-life management of products they place on the market. Under EPR, the cost and logistics of collection, recycling, or safe disposal shift from local governments and taxpayers to the producer.
Producer
Any entity that manufactures, imports, or sells products under their own brand name within India. A single company can simultaneously be a manufacturer, importer, and brand owner.
Producer Responsibility Organisation PRO
A CPCB-registered body that helps producers fulfil EPR obligations collectively. PROs contract with recyclers, manage collection logistics, and issue EPR credits to producers on their behalf.
EPR Credit
A certificate representing 1 metric tonne (MT) of material recycled by a CPCB-registered recycler. Credits are stream-specific — a plastic credit cannot fulfil a battery obligation.
Placed on Market POM
Total quantity of products a producer introduces into the Indian market in a given financial year, measured in metric tonnes (MT). POM is the base figure from which recycling targets are calculated.
Recycling Target
The minimum percentage of POM that a producer must have recycled for a given financial year, as mandated by applicable rules. Targets increase year-on-year under most streams.
Regulatory Bodies
B
CPCB National
Central Pollution Control Board. The apex national body under MoEF&CC that administers EPR portals, registers producers and PROs, approves recyclers, and enforces compliance nationally.
SPCB / PCB State
State Pollution Control Board (or Pollution Control Committee for Union Territories). Producers may need to register with the relevant SPCB in addition to CPCB, depending on the waste stream and state.
MoEF&CC
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The central government ministry that issues EPR rules and notifications in the Official Gazette of India.
Waste Streams & Applicable Rules
C
Plastic Waste PWM Rules
Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (amended 2018, 2021, 2022). Covers rigid (Cat I), flexible single-layer (Cat II), multi-layer (Cat III/MLP), and compostable plastic (Cat IV).
E-Waste EWM Rules
E-Waste Management Rules, 2022. Cover Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) listed in Schedule I. Targets based on the average of the last 3 years of sales.
Battery Waste BWM Rules
Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. Cover portable, automotive, industrial, and EV batteries. Producers must collect and recycle a percentage equivalent to quantities placed on market.
Waste Tyres
Governed by HW & Other Wastes Rules 2016 + CPCB Tyre EPR Guidelines. Targets apply to new tyre manufacturers and importers (PCR, TBR, OTR, 2-wheeler categories).
Used Oil / Lubricants HWM Rules
Mineral-based lubricating oils (engine oil, transformer oil, industrial oil) are classified as hazardous. Producers must ensure a percentage is re-refined or co-processed.
End-of-Life Vehicles ELV
Vehicle Scrapping Policy 2021 + MoRTH Guidelines. OEMs and vehicle importers are responsible for ensuring scrapping/recycling of vehicles they have placed on market.
Non-Ferrous Metals
Aluminium, copper, and zinc products (cans, foils, wire, fittings). Covered under proposed Hazardous Waste & Other Waste Rules 2025 amendment. Must be recycled through registered smelters.
Non-Plastic Packaging
Paper, glass, and metal packaging, plus sanitary products. Covered under EPR (Non-Plastic Packaging) Rules, 2024. Applies to brand owners and producers of secondary/tertiary packaging.
Plastic-Specific Terms
D
Category I Rigid Plastic
Hard plastic packaging that retains its shape after use — bottles, jars, tubs, crates, trays, caps.
Category II Flexible Single-Layer
Plastic packaging made of a single layer of flexible material — carry bags, pouches, sachets, wraps, films.
Category III MLP
Multi-Layered Plastic. Packaging made of more than one bonded layer, at least one being plastic — chip packets, toothpaste tubes, laminated pouches. Hardest to recycle; strictest obligations.
Category IV Compostable
Plastic certified compostable under IS/ISO 17088. Must be composted through authorised facilities, not recycled. Producers must ensure a corresponding percentage is composted.
SUP Single-Use Plastic
Items banned outright in India since July 2022 under PWM Amendment Rules 2021. SUP items cannot be placed on market — distinct from EPR obligations, but producers must ensure compliance.
Filing & Compliance Terms
E
Annual Return
Mandatory report submitted each financial year on the CPCB EPR portal, declaring quantity placed on market, quantity collected/recycled, and EPR credits procured. Typically due by 30 June.
EPR Portal
Stream-specific online portals operated by CPCB where producers register, upload data, and submit annual returns. Each waste stream has its own portal.
Registration Certificate
Certificate issued by CPCB confirming a producer's registration on the EPR portal. Required before placing products on the Indian market. Must be renewed annually.
Carry-forward / Rollover
Surplus EPR credits (where a producer recycles more than their target) that can, in some streams, be carried forward to offset obligations in a future financial year.
EPF Environmental Protection Fund
A CPCB-managed fund into which producers pay a fee if they fail to meet recycling targets. The EPF rate is set per tonne of unmet obligation and acts as a backstop penalty.
Financial Year FY
India's financial year runs 1 April to 31 March. EPR obligations and targets are expressed per FY — e.g., FY 2025–26 means 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Roles & Supply Chain
F
Manufacturer
An entity that makes the product within India. Under most EPR rules, the manufacturer is the primary "producer" responsible for EPR obligations.
Importer
An entity that brings products into India from outside. Importers bear EPR obligations equivalent to manufacturers for the quantity they import.
Brand Owner
An entity that owns or licenses the brand under which a product is sold in India, even if manufacturing is outsourced. Co-responsible under most EPR rules.
Recycler
A facility registered with CPCB to process specific waste streams and issue EPR credits. Recyclers must maintain capacity records and submit quarterly reports to CPCB.
Dismantler
Relevant mainly for e-waste and ELV. A CPCB-registered facility that disassembles products to separate materials for recycling. Distinct from a recycler in that it does not do final processing.
Bulk Consumer
Under e-waste rules, large-volume users of EEE (offices, factories, hospitals) obliged to ensure waste EEE reaches registered recyclers rather than the informal sector.
Measurement Units
G
Metric Tonne MT
The standard unit for EPR targets and credits. 1 MT = 1,000 kg. All quantities placed on market and all recycling obligations are expressed in MT.
Crore ₹ Cr
Indian unit of turnover. 1 Crore = 10 million rupees = ₹10,000,000. Used to determine turnover thresholds that trigger (or exempt) EPR obligations.
Disclaimer: This glossary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify obligations against the latest CPCB notifications and the Official Gazette of India. For specific compliance decisions, consult a qualified legal or EPR compliance professional.