A few months ago, a small plastic recycler from Pune contacted us, frustrated after his registration was “stuck” on the CPCB portal for over a month. The issue wasn’t his compliance — it was incomplete document uploads.
This is the reality for many recyclers and waste processors today. With the Central Pollution Control Board tightening checks under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, registration isn’t just paperwork — it’s your business license to operate legally and trade EPR certificates.
Let’s simplify the official CPCB SOP for Plastic Waste Processors — so you know exactly what to do, which documents to prepare, and how to avoid delays.
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Central Pollution Control Board ensures a uniform process for registering all Plastic Waste Processors (recyclers, waste-to-energy plants, plastic-to-oil units, and industrial composters) across India.
This SOP aligns with the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2025, which now require producers and processors to print QR codes or barcodes containing their EPR registration number on packaging and product information from 1 July 2025.
CPCB’s goal is to make waste processing traceable, transparent, and verifiable under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system.
Any facility involved in collection, segregation, recycling, recovery, or disposal of plastic waste must obtain registration as a Plastic Waste Processor on the CPCB portal.
That includes:
Operating without registration can lead to license suspension, EPR credit loss, and environmental-compensation penalties.
The official SOP outlines a simple but strict digital workflow.
Each Plastic Waste Processor must prepare the following for upload on the portal:
Tip: Incomplete or mismatched addresses between GST, CTO, and application forms are the most common reasons for CPCB rejections.
| Processing Capacity (TPA) | Application Fee (₹) |
|---|---|
| < 200 TPA | 5,000 |
| 200 – < 2000 TPA | 20,000 |
| > 2000 TPA | 50,000 |
Fees are shared between CPCB and SPCB in an 80 : 20 ratio. Payments are made online through the integrated payment gateway.
Renewal applications must be filed four months before expiry with updated documents and compliance reports.
Once submitted, SPCB must evaluate the application within 15 days; if incomplete, a digital checklist of shortcomings is issued through the portal.
Post-registration, CPCB or SPCB conducts a physical or video inspection within 30 days to verify operations. Any mismatch or falsification may lead to suspension or cancellation of registration.
Even compliant recyclers often face delays. Based on industry experience, here are the most frequent pitfalls:
Avoiding these ensures your application clears in one go.
From July 2025, processors must ensure all plastic packaging carries a barcode or QR code with the EPR registration number, as required by the latest Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2025.
Additionally, all producers, importers, and processors are now required to report quarterly on the CPCB EPR portal — making compliance more transparent and traceable.
Failure to register or renew under CPCB guidelines may lead to:
Early registration and proactive renewals prevent these losses and ensure uninterrupted operations.
At Green Permits Consulting LLC, we help recyclers and waste processors navigate the CPCB registration maze — from portal login to certification.
Our end-to-end assistance covers:
Book a compliance consultation today.
📞 +91 78350 06182 | 📧 wecare@greenpermits.in
Initial registration is valid for 1 year; renewed certificates are valid for 3 years.
No. All registrations must be filed online at www.cpcbeprplastic.in .
Typically 15 days for processing and 30 days for inspection.
Yes. Quarterly and annual returns must be filed through the EPR portal.
