Monitoring of PET bottle buyback obligation by manufacturer's

District committee for plastic waste management

• Monitoring of plastic bottle producers' obligation
• Strict implementation of plastic waste management rules
• Pollution Control Board's cooperation with the district-level committee

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: To control plastic bottle waste in the state, a district-level monitoring committee has been formed under the leadership of the District Commissioner to monitor the compliance of bottle producers with the obligation to buy back.

The Forest Department has issued an order specifying the duties and responsibilities of the committee formed to monitor and implement the Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016) in the management of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

The order for the formation of the monitoring committee and the removal of concrete around trees was released by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday at an Environment Day event.

Special attention should be paid to the management of PET bottle waste, and plastic management rules should be implemented and plastic waste should be controlled. A district level monitoring committee has been formed to reduce plastic pollution, control plastic use and implement procedures.

The district level committee should be provided administrative support by the district office of the State Pollution Control Board. It has been directed in the order to coordinate and prepare reports.

It has been stated that the primary responsibility of the district level committee is to ensure that manufacturers, importers and brand owners involved in the manufacture and sale of PET bottles are complying with the obligations of ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ (EPR).

Guidelines: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging under the Plastic Waste Management Rules in the Environment (Protection) Act.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has launched the EPR portal to centralize the registration process of manufacturers, importers, brand owners (PIBOs), plastic waste recyclers, and plastic waste to fuel processors. Accordingly, it has directed the State Pollution Control Boards to complete the registration application process.

Monitoring Committee

Chairman – Deputy Commissioner, Members – Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat, District Superintendent of Police, Deputy Director of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Members of the concerned local body (Municipality/City Corporation/Panchayat), Member Convener – District Environment Officer of the State Pollution Control Board.

Committee Responsibilities

* To collect records from manufacturers, brand owners, local manufacturers and to compile accurate data on the quantity of PET bottles produced, used and sold in the district.

* To verify the data submitted in the EPR portal and annual reports in EPR at CPCB. The Pollution Control Board should review and monitor the action plans of the registered bottle manufacturers along with the local bodies.

* Manufacturers and brand owners in the district should ensure that awareness and publicity is taken on the collection, segregation and return procedures of PET bottles as per their EPR responsibilities.

* The committee should meet once in three months, review the progress and discuss the issues. A brief report with action points and findings should be submitted to the head office of the State Pollution Control Board.