Like many large economies, India faces a growing issue with plastic waste. A report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) covering 2020-21 reveals that around four million tonnes of plastic waste are generated annually, but only about 25% of this waste is either treated or recycled. The majority ends up in landfills or is discarded in an unsustainable manner. Since 2016, under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, those using plastic products have been required to take responsibility for the collection and recycling of their waste through an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system. Initially voluntary, this system is now mandatory and managed via an online platform.
The EPR system calls for packaging companies, importers, and major users of plastic to register with CPCB and recycle their plastic waste in return for certificates. These certificates can then be uploaded to a CPCB portal and sold to companies failing to meet their recycling targets. However, an audit revealed that in 2022-23, out of the 3.7 million tonnes of plastic certificates issued, about 600,000 were fraudulent. Reports also surfaced of hackers stealing certificates and selling them to companies, making it unclear how much of the recycled plastic was legitimate.
In response, CPCB initiated two major actions: an audit of approximately 800 recyclers (about a fourth of all registered recyclers) and a complete security overhaul of the EPR system, although this has delayed returns for 2023-24. The CPCB considers these problems to be temporary issues in establishing the new system. Although it can impose fines, the enforcement process is often slow and legally challenging. To truly address the plastic waste problem, a broader market-driven solution is necessary, alongside efforts to curb plastic production and promote eco-friendly alternatives.
Question 1: What is the central issue discussed in the passage?
A) The enforcement of fines under the Plastic Waste Management Rules.
B) The challenges faced by India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system in effectively managing plastic waste.
C) The role of packaging companies in reducing plastic waste through eco-friendly alternatives.
D) The recycling targets set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Question 2: Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument that the EPR system is effectively managing plastic waste in India?
A) The number of fraudulent plastic recycling certificates issued continues to rise despite audits.
B) Companies are using eco-friendly alternatives to plastic packaging to meet their recycling targets.
C) The CPCB has successfully implemented fines for companies that fail to meet their recycling quotas.
D) Several companies have voluntarily exceeded their recycling targets before the system became mandatory.
Question 3: Which assumption underlies the CPCB’s decision to mandate the EPR system for managing plastic waste?
A) Companies need external enforcement and incentives to recycle their plastic waste effectively.
B) The online platform used for the EPR system is immune to security breaches and fraud.
C) Fines and penalties alone are sufficient to ensure compliance with recycling regulations.
D) Most plastic waste in India can be effectively managed through voluntary corporate initiatives.
Question 4: What inference can be drawn about the effectiveness of the EPR system from the passage?
A) The EPR system has completely failed to manage plastic waste in India, leading to widespread non-compliance.
B) The CPCB has successfully eliminated the problem of plastic waste in India through the EPR system.
C) The CPCB’s EPR system is only effective in managing plastic waste from small companies.
D) The EPR system faces challenges with fraud and enforcement, but CPCB is addressing these issues through audits and security improvements.
Question 5: Which of the following is a strong argument supporting the need for broader market-driven solutions to address the plastic waste problem in India?
A) The CPCB has already imposed fines on companies that fail to meet their recycling quotas.
B) The market for eco-friendly alternatives to plastic is growing rapidly, reducing the need for regulatory oversight.
C) The majority of plastic waste in India is being recycled, demonstrating the success of the EPR system.
D) Fraudulent practices like selling fake plastic recycling certificates have undermined the effectiveness of the current EPR system.
Calling all law aspirants!
Are you exhausted from constantly searching for study materials and question banks? Worry not!
With over 15,000 students already engaged, you definitely don't want to be left out.
Become a member of the most vibrant law aspirants community out there!
It’s FREE! Hurry!
Join our WhatsApp Groups (Click Here) and Telegram Channel (Click Here) today, and receive instant notifications.