EPR for Used Oil – The Need to Defeat Spent Lubrication Oil Pollution
The CPCB has implemented various regulations earlier to combat environmental pollution caused by plastic waste, e-waste batteries and tyre waste in India. A few months back it has imposed EPR for used oil management to combat environmental pollution triggered from spent lubricant oil contamination.
The primary purpose of mandating EPR on spent lubrication or base oil is to fight horrific instances of unplanned circulation of used oil in the country.
Instances of Unplanned Management of Used Oil | Real-Time Challenge
- The CPCB’s 2022-23 Annual Report claims that potential oil leakage in the pipeline at Bharat Petroleum facility in Tondaripet has triggered groundwater pollution in the nation
- Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh scores highest record in recycling spent oil by defying EPR for used oil rule
- MoEFCC’s 2023 report claims that multiple instances of groundwater pollution have been identified for recycling spent industrial-grade oil haphazardly
- Severe instances of recycling spent oil in various Indian states have increased soil and water pollution
The applicability of EPR on used oil has simplified all kinds of treatment associated with spent lubrication oil in India. It has leveraged spent lubrication oil handlers to embrace eco-friendly ways to manage used oil in the country.
Few Reasons to Adhere with EPR for Used Oil Rule – Key Highlights
- Enabling every Producer, Importer, Recycler, and spent oil collector to treat used lubrication oil right from beginning till disposal by complying with Used Oil regulations
- Reduce environmental pollution from unplanned circulation of industrial oil waste
- Mandate every used oil Producer, Importer, Recycler, and used oil Collection agent to take EPR registration for final disposal
- Integrating spent lubrication oil recyclers within EPR for used oil recycling infrastructure
- Simplify the process of maintaining quarterly and annual EPR reports by fulfilling yearly recycling targets for used oil
- Maintaining transparency and accountability in drafting EPR for used oil reports followed by timely submission
- Encouraging the concerned stakeholders handling used oil to form a circular economy
- Helping used oil handlers to bypass CPCB’s penalties in import, manufacture and utility of resources by fostering oil waste management
- Easy to separate toxic chemicals like lead, zinc, cadmium, and benzene from used oil while recycling used lubricant oil
- Minimize environmental pollution by fostering sustainable waste oil management, helping concerned businesses bolster their brand image
Applicability of EPR for Used Lubrication or Base Oil on Certain Entities
The EPR regulations on used oil are applicable on certain entities tackling various types of spend lubrication or base oil. Some of those stakeholders include-
- Base/lubrication oil Importer
- Spent or used oil collection agents
- Used oil recycler
- Used oil importer
The EPR for used oil guidelines have also defined various entities responsible for handling all types of spent lubrication or base oil.
These definitions include following entities –
- Producer – Includes every manufacturer and seller of base or lubrication oil, under own brand name, and third party’s brand logo. It also includes the domestic producer and seller of base/lubrication oil
- Importer– Identified as those who’re engaged in import of all types of base or lubrication oil
- Collection Agents– Stakeholders associated with the collection of used oils (base or lubricant type)
- Recyclers – Those entities who are responsible for recycling used oils according to EPR for used oil rule of CPCB
Major Stakeholder Responsibilities Under EPR for Used Oil
- Taking the financial and operational responsibility for handling used oil as mentioned under EPR for used oil regulations
- Undertake the liabilities associated with used oil registration share detail action plan for managing used oil, follow the used oil waste collection guidelines, etc.
- Safe collection and disposal of used oil as an integral part of EPR responsibility
- Setting up used oil collection points by partnering with automobile servicing centres and industries
- Tie-up with registered resource recycling and recovery network to extract toxic elements without impacting the environment
- Re-refine or regenerate base oils by purifying used oil from contaminants for manufacturing fresh lubricant
Conclusion
The implementation of EPR on used oil has been pushing India to embrace sustainable solutions for managing waste oil. It’s high time for concerned stakeholders to adhere with CPCB’s used oil regulations for a sustainable greener future ahead.
