Extended producer responsibility
Also called: EPR · Topic: Geographical Issues: Pollution, Urban Waste, Slums and Land Degradation · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a rule that keeps a company responsible for its product even after the buyer has thrown it away. Producers, importers and brand owners must collect what they sell and get it recycled. This puts the cost of waste on the companies that create it, not only on city governments. In India, EPR applies to plastic packaging, e-waste, batteries and tyres. It grows out of the polluter pays principle.
Example
A company that sells snacks in plastic packets across India must arrange for the same amount of plastic packaging to be collected and recycled.
Don't confuse with
- Single-use plastic ban: this banned certain plastic items outright from 1 July 2022. EPR does not ban products. It makes producers responsible for collecting and recycling them.
Related concepts
- Solid waste
- Urban waste disposal
- Legacy waste
- Single-use plastic ban
- E-waste
- Solid Waste Management Rules 2026