Business · India Bureau
Non-ferrous scrap EPR scheme stalled by portal delays, unclear targets
India's Extended Producer Responsibility regime for non-ferrous metals faces significant implementation hurdles, with the central pollution watchdog's portal remaining non-operational and critical calculation parameters still unpublished.
LSN India ·
The non-ferrous scrap Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme is encountering substantial operational bottlenecks as key infrastructure and regulatory guidelines remain incomplete, industry participants said on Tuesday.
The Central Pollution Control Board's dedicated portal for the scheme has yet to become fully operational, leaving producers and recyclers unable to register, report obligations, or track compliance digitally. This technical shortfall threatens to impede the scheme's rollout timeline and create confusion among stakeholders about procedural requirements.
Equally problematic is the absence of published parameters for calculating average product life across non-ferrous metal categories. These parameters are fundamental to determining individual producer recycling obligations under the EPR framework. Without this specification, manufacturers cannot accurately calculate their required collection and recycling targets, effectively rendering compliance calculations impossible.
The dual gaps raise questions about the scheme's readiness for enforcement. Industry sources have flagged concerns about potential compliance confusion and uneven implementation if these foundational elements are not expedited. The CPCB has not yet announced a revised timeline for portal operationalization or parameter publication.
The non-ferrous scrap EPR regime, aimed at improving waste management and circular economy participation in sectors including copper, aluminium, and zinc, will require swift resolution of these implementation challenges to achieve its stated objectives.