It is high time that Producers of the Plastic Waste or any kind of Waste becomes responsible for the waste generation part of the product. India is very new to the concept of PRO i.e. Producer Responsibility Organization. PRO means the responsibility is till the end of the life cycle of the product i.e. Cradle to Grave Approach for the Product.
PRO is a European concept which has been in European Nations close to 30 years. PRO’s task is to setup and manage infrastructure that organizes collection on behalf of its members. PRO brings more efficiency, cost-effectiveness and awareness while managing the operations regarding waste management. There has been an immense need for PROs functioning in different arenas in India i.e. E-Waste, Plastic Waste and Hazardous Waste Management.
As per the new Rules in Maharashtra with respect to Plastics, the producers are accountable for the waste generated by them and must purchase the waste from the retailers and individual customers. Currently Multilayered Plastics have come into the foray of PROs where Organizations are recalling back the plastic waste generated by them and sending them for Co-incineration in the cement plant.
Producers are now responsible for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) phase of the product and are working with organizations both physically and financially to take the responsibility of waste that is being generated. Government assigns the producers the responsibility, both financial and physical for the treatment or disposal of the Product at the end of the lifecycle.
PRO-India is the first PRO (Producer Responsibility Organization) for Plastics in Indian Subcontinent and is promoting 7Rs for Plastic in India. Responsible Recycling leads to Zero Waste Policy that is Zero Landfill and use all the Plastic Waste through 7Rs i.e. Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, Repair, Replace, Recover and Refurbish. PRO which is relatively a new concept for India shall certainly bring more transparency and accountability for different types of Producers, Academia, Government, Wastepickers, Industry Associations and shall bring them on the same platform while taking care of the pilferages in the system.
