Pollution Control Board fines Bisleri, Coke and Pepsi for non-compliance of plastic disposal norms

EPR is a policy approach where a company has a key responsibility to put in place a system for collection of the waste generated by their products when they are disposed post usage to ensure recycling and waste management. In this case, the companies’ EPR responsibility is mainly towards the plastic waste that they generate.

They are also required to submit a Quarterly Progress Report (OPR) that is endorsed by the Urban Local Body (ULB) or state pollution control boards concerned.

In the case of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), which was levied the highest fine, CPCB noted that the company’s EPR action plan, its total plastic waste generation target was over 1 lakh tonnes per annum.

However, the company only collected and disposed only about 23,442 tonnes of plastic waste between August 2019 and September, 2020.

Responding to the notice, a HCCB spokesperson said, “We are in receipt of the notice issued by the Central Pollution Control Board. As part of the global operations of The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) we operate in full compliance with the regulatory framework and within the ambit of the laws of the land, both in letter and spirit. We are currently studying the order and will be working with the relevant authorities to resolve the issue, within the stipulated timeframe.”

Bisleri, on the other hand, has been penalised for not submitting requisite documents showing a collection of plastic waste generated by it. “Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd. has not submitted any endorsed documents either from SPCBs or ULBs for collection of 21500 Tons of plastic waste as per submitted EPR Action Plan,” the CPCB notice states.

Bisleri has said that it adheres to the provisions of PWM Rules, directions and orders passed thereunder.

“We have timely submitted all the requisite documents as and when advised by CPCB duly endorsed from SPCB/PCC/ULB’s. As a dedicated and socially responsible corporate, we have adhered to all the guidelines issued by the government. We have been creating awareness about Plastic segregation and recycling of plastic. We have been educating citizens through corporates, schools and RWAs. We are currently working closely with the regulators to share detailed information relating to our actions on compliance to resolve the issue at the earliest,” a Bisleri spokesperson said.

PepsiCo was fined for not submitting QPRs for all the plastic waste it said it has collected.

The three companies have each been fined Rs 5,000 per ton of plastic waste introduced by them, for which EPR liability has not been fulfilled for the period under consideration.

The CPCB has also issued a notice to Patanjali and levied a fine of Rs 1 crore for not registering as a producer of plastic waste with the CPCB as per the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2018 . The levy on Patanjali follows showcause notices issued to the company in 2020 followed by the notice of closure of operations of its unit in October. While the company had sought for time to comply, CPCB noted that it didn’t submit an application to register under the rules.