Get Plastic Waste Authorization in India

It 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.

Any entity that is involved in the collection, storage, transport, processing, or recycling of plastic waste needs to obtain 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.

The entity 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. The application has to be submitted to the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Union Territory Pollution Control Committee (UTPCC), if the entity is operational in one or two Indian States, or to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), if the entity is operational in more than two Indian States.

The fees and validity of plastic waste authorization vary from state to state and depend on the type and capacity of the plastic waste activities undertaken by the entity. However, some sources indicate that there is no need to pay any fees along with the application, but only for the field inspection. Another source suggests that the plastic waste 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.

The plastic waste authorization holder has to comply with the standards and guidelines issued by the CPCB and the MoEFCC for plastic waste management, such as the collection, storage, transport, processing, recycling, disposal, etc. The authorization holder also 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 also 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 SPCB or UTPCC can cancel, suspend, or revoke the authorization if the authorization holder fails to comply with the conditions and terms of the authorization, fails to submit the annual returns or the renewal application, provides false or misleading information or documents, causes or is likely to cause environmental damage or harm to human health, or violates any provision of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and 2018 or any other applicable law. The SPCB or UTPCC will issue a notice to the authorization holder, giving them an opportunity to show cause why the authorization should not be cancelled, suspended, or revoked. The SPCB or UTPCC will communicate the decision to the authorization holder and the CPCB within 15 days of the decision.