1. How are EPR credits procured and tracked?

EPR credits are purchased from registered Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs) and recyclers on the CPCB EPRETP portal. On the portal, each registered entity has a credit wallet and transaction ledger that records:

• Credits generated and transferred by PWPs.
• Credits purchased by PIBOs.
• Credits utilized against EPR obligations.

2. Who is a registered Plastic Waste Processor (PWP)?

A registered Plastic Waste Processor (PWP) is an entity authorized by CPCB under the PWM Rules, 2016 to process plastic waste in an environmentally sound manner. Activities can include recycling, co-processing, waste-to-energy and waste-to-oil, among other approved technologies.

3. How can an entity become an EPR-registered Plastic Waste Processor?

To become an EPR-registered PWP, an entity generally must:

• Obtain Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) under the applicable Air and Water Acts.
• Obtain necessary authorizations under the PWM Rules, 2016.
• Apply for EPR registration as a PWP on the CPCB EPR portal, uploading all required documents.
• Undergo scrutiny and, where applicable, physical inspection by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Pollution Control Committee (PCC).

Once approved, the PWP can generate EPR credits on the portal based on verified processing of plastic waste.

4. Can a non-registered PWP issue EPR credits, and can such credits be used for compliance?

No. Only EPR-registered PWPs can issue EPR credits on the CPCB EPR portal. Credits are generated through the portal based on:

• Upload of plastic scrap purchase details.
• Monthly production data.
• Upload of sales e-invoices.

This data is verified by authorities before credits are generated, within timelines defined by the portal. Credits generated or purchased outside the portal (e.g., from non-registered processors) cannot be used to meet EPR obligations.

5. How long does it take to transfer EPR credits on the portal?

After a recycler/PWP initiates a credit transfer to a PIBO on the CPCB EPRETP portal, the credits are deducted from the PWP’s ( Seller’s) account and credited to the PIBO’s (buyer’s) account in real time, subject to successful completion of the transaction on the portal.

6. How long are EPR credits valid?

EPR credits are valid for three years from the date of generation. After the validity period expires, unused credits lapse and cannot be used for compliance or traded.

7. Can Category 3 credits be used to fulfill Category 4 obligations?

No, credits must be adjusted within the same category. For example, if you have an obligation for Category 3, you must purchase or generate Category 3 credits only.

8. Are EPR credits reversible once transferred?

Once EPR credits are transferred from a PWP to a PIBO (or between wallets) and the transaction is completed on the CPCB portal, they cannot be reversed back to the issuing PWP.

However, credits can be transferred between different registrations belonging to the same PAN on the portal (for example, between Importer and Brand Owner accounts of the same legal entity).

9. Is there a deadline each year to purchase EPR credits?

Yes. PIBOs must procure and utilize the required EPR credits before filing the annual return for the relevant financial year. The purchase and consumption of credits should be completed before the statutory annual return due date (typically 30 June of the following financial year).

10. Is there any minimum guideline rate for purchasing EPR credits?

The source text refers to minimum guideline rates linked to Environmental Compensation (EC) but marks this content for verification. Before publication, the following should be checked against the latest MoEFCC/CPCB circulars:

• Whether minimum EPR credit pricing is officially specified.
• If so, how it is derived from EC rates (e.g., a percentage of EC per tonne for each plastic category).

filemyepr.in recommends that entities refer to the latest CPCB guidance and market conditions on the EPRETP Portal before finalizing purchase prices.

11. What happens if a business has excess EPR credits?

Excess credits can be:

• Carried forward to the next compliance year within their three-year validity.
• Transferred to other eligible PIBOs, in line with CPCB rules and portal functionalities. The credit wallet section of the CPCB portal shows available balances and expiry dates of the credits available.