Govt plans digital tracking of companies' waste, credit trades

plastic waste, here the responsibility shifts partly to companies that bring plastic.The registration module was launched in February, and the platform is expected to become fully operational within the next four months.The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the management of plastic waste, electronic waste, and used batteries, wherein enforcement gaps and fragmented systems have posed challenges to effective implementation."The existing system was not effective in managing the full EPR lifecycle or tracking compliance digitally, as it is more manually. The new portal will enable end-to-end management of obligations, including registration, target setting, monitoring and reporting,” one of the officials said.The portal will require all obligated entities as well as intermediaries such as recyclers and processors to register digitally.An email query sent to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Central Pollution Control Board remains unanswered."The portal will initially cover five to six waste streams, where EPR compliance is mandatory, including plastic waste, e-waste, battery waste, used oil, and waste tyres.

Additional categories such as scrap metals may be added later," said Shubhranshu Patnaik, partner and government & public services (G&PS) industry leader at Deloitte India.A key feature of the system will be a digital marketplace for EPR credits. If companies fail to meet their recycling obligations, they can purchase credits from authorized recyclers or other entities that exceed their targets.“Companies will be able to track their annual obligations in real time and meet shortfalls through accredited recyclers or by purchasing credits,” Patnaik said.