On Wednesday The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) announced they prepared the national framework for extended producer responsibility (EPR). The framework has been delayed for many months and aims to provide much-needed guidance for companies to comply with plastic legislation.

The framework provides brands and manufacturers with directions to manage extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation. The laws make it mandatory for companies to collect-back and recycle their plastic. India generates approximately 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day. Approximately 10,556 tonnes of this waste remains uncollected and thus reaches landfills or is thrown on the streets.

The EPR framework is broken up into three parts - each suited to either a small, medium or large business. According to packaging 360, “The three models are officially called: fee-based model, Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) model and credit model. PROs are third party entities that manage waste on behalf of manufacturers.”

Small manufacturers must contribute to an EPR fund which will pay local bodies to recycle the amount of plastic they produced. Medium and large businesses who don’t have experience in recycling can hire Producer Responsibility Organisations, or PROs. Plastics For Change can become a PRO for companies as they transition to the new framework.

Larger companies can acquire credits if they send plastic to recycling units. Plastics For Change is partnering with brands and manufacturers to recycle their plastic and help companies comply with legislation.

When asked, experts in The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) said the pan should take from three to six months, but many still debate these timelines.

To be prepared for this regulation, head to http://www.plasticsforchange.org/for-corporations