Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO)

Introduction

PRO is characterized as a professional organization authorized or financed collectively or individually by producers who can take responsibility for the collection and channeling of e-waste produced from the 'end-of-life' of their products in order to ensure that such e-waste is handled or managed without harming the environment.

A PRO / Agency is a specialist agency that helps producers/brand owners achieve their EPR goals through a range of plastic waste processing technologies like MLP or its end-of-life applications in the country such as waste to energy, waste to fuel, waste to the road, and waste to a cement kiln.

PRO’s capacity and capability

A PRO / Agency will determine its waste handling capability, which includes recycling capability, storage capacity, and recyclers with whom it has agreements to recycle such waste. A PRO will also be able to channelize plastic and electronic waste to meet the Producers / Brand Owners' collection goals.

Role of PRO's

PRO assist producers in one or more of the following tasks–

• Achieving collection goals,
• Developing collection processes such as collection door to door
• Buyback implementation
• Settlement under the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board ('CPCB')
• Logistics arrangements, collection centers/points may involve setting up collection godowns or working via warehouses.
• Ensure traceability of the collected and channelized e-waste & recycling of refined plastic waste & end of life waste.
• Ensuring environmentally sustainable recycling and dismantling.
• Conducting awareness program among consumers / bulk consumers/producers for collecting and channeling waste Helping producers to file quarterly / annual returns in compliance as per regulations.
• Provide the obligation plan of an extended producer as legally necessary

Registration of PRO:

The application form for registration of PRO to be submitted to CPCB is annexed with the guidelines for both plastic and electronic waste management. The e-waste management guidelines do not provide for any minimum requirements for PRO registration, while guidelines for plastic waste management stipulate minimum requirements –

1. Registration from any legislative body;
2. Minimum 5 years of experience in waste management (Municipal solid waste & plastic waste);
3. Municipal solid & plastic waste disposal history record stories
4. TAN, GST & PAN numbers.

In all cases, however, CPCB has the power to scrutinize, check and review the document, and to decide accordingly. The target time for CPCB's response should be 25 days. Registration under the Laws of E-waste management is valid for a period of three years. An application for registration renewal shall be submitted within 60 days of its expiry. Any appeal shall lie before the Chairman. Any type of related appeal lies before the chairman of CPCB

Documents required for registration

1. Authorized signatory id and address proof (PAN and Adhar)
2. GST registration certificate
3. Business address proof
4. Organization registration certificate (COI, MOA in case of company)
5. PAN & TAN of organization
6. Registration certificate from any legislative body as PRO or as waste dealer