Everything That You Need To Know About The EPR License?

Running a business is not just about making money, not anymore.

It's also about accepting social responsibility of the impact that it can have on the environment and the people. To hold the electronic product manufacturers accountable to the environmental impact their products have, the Central Pollution Control board has made EPR License mandatory.

EPR means Extended Producer Responsibility. By getting the EPR License, the electronic product producers declare that they are ready to deal with the disposal of electronic wastes. To be more precise, the license is the E waste management license.

The importance of electronic waste management cannot be suppressed

"Care for the environment", "Recycle as much as you can", and the most popular "Respect the mother earth", are the buzzwords used to lay stress upon the importance of non renewable resources.

From plastic to metal, every one of them can be reused. But if people just reject them by burning or burying, it can harm the environment.

1. Without recycling, we don't have a way to make our renewable resources last long.
2. Without electronic waste management, the components of an electronic product will be wasted.
3. Without proper way to disassemble and extract the raw materials from existing electronic wastes, there can be a severe lack of technological development.

EPR registration is not merely a mandatory certification, it's a promise; promise that you, as an electronic manufacturer, will give to the environment as much as you take from it.

Who has to get the EPR License?

While we have repeatedly laid stress that it's the electronic manufacturers that should apply for the EPR certificate, it's not only them for whom its important. Others are:

1. Small scale E waste management companies.
2. Importers of Electronic wastes.
3. Those who are into storing or recycling electronic waste products.

If you're any one of the above, you need to understand the process to acquire EPR registration certificate.

Understanding the EPR certificate requirements

Before you take a step forward towards acquiring the certification, make yourself aware of the following requirements:

1. Address proof of the location of your electronic producer or e waste management company.
2. Your contact details that will consist of your name, address, mobile or phone number and email ID ( online process can only take place if you have an email ID)
3. Copy of the PAN card that points to your status as a tax paying citizen of Ind9ia
4. Details of the person who will be signing the application.
5. Details of the products your factory is producing or the products your e waste management company focuses on recycling
6. BIS License copy (if the product you're doing business in comes under Bureau of Indian Standards)
7. Certificate that proves that you comply with the Reduction of Hazardous Wastes (ROHS) compliance rules.
8. The estimated budget you've dedicated towards Extended Producer Responsibility.
9. Details of the recycling unit if you have an in house recycling department.
   
   Or, details of the recycler if you've outsources your recycling needs.
10. EPR strategy document
11. Copy of agreements you've signed with dealers, disposers, collection centres and recyclers.
12. Content of your company's website about E waste management.
13. The legal documents that points to your status as a manufacturer or an exporter.
    They can be:

• Import Export Code
• Certificate of incorporation
• Directorate of Industries
• Depending on the state in which your factory exists, you can also present the Certification received from Municipal Corporations.

Every requirement that's mentioned above is for assessing how serious you are about taking on the extended producer responsibility.

So, remember not to cut corners or download a fake copy of the EPR certificate format just to pass off as someone who is serious. It's a serious offense.

Filing the application for EPR certification

The mode to file the application is online. So first, get a scanned copy of the mentioned requirements and file the online application via the portal provided by CPCB.

It's at this time that the Central Pollution Control Board might need some convincing.

The application assessment process is a long one. So, if you want to accelerate the process by a bit, contact an EPR certificate consultant as soon as possible.

After full assessment, you'll get the certificate.

Conclusion

Extended Producer responsibility is a promise that you have to accept if you are an electronic products manufacturer.

Are there any benefits to getting it? Not direct ones, but if you want to pursue your business without the government breathing down your neck, you have to apply for it.