Choose the correct statements for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) with respect to various waste management rules:
(A) EPR model is based on the polluter pays principle. (B) The integration of EPR schemes in rules promotes the circular economy. (C) It encourages consumer waste prevention behavior. (D) It is helpful in the optimization of waste collection.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is D

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy approach where producers are given a significant responsibility—financial and/or physical—for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products. The following points explain the relevance of the statements:
1. Polluter Pays Principle: EPR is based on the polluter pays principle, making producers accountable for the lifecycle impacts of their products, including end-of-life waste management.
2. Promoting Circular Economy: EPR encourages the integration of a circular economy by focusing on waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, minimizing the need for virgin materials.
3. Encourages Consumer Behavior: Through proper implementation, EPR creates awareness and incentivizes consumer behavior toward waste prevention and responsible disposal.
4. Optimizing Waste Collection: EPR helps optimize waste collection systems by creating an organized framework where producers facilitate effective recycling and proper disposal mechanisms.
Information Booster: 1. Key Goals of EPR:
· Reduce environmental burden by managing product waste.
· Promote recycling and recovery of materials.
· Encourage sustainable product design.
2. Circular Economy Benefits:
· Reduces dependency on raw materials.
· Mitigates environmental impacts.
· Promotes economic growth through resource efficiency.
3. Examples of EPR in India:
· E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016.
· Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
4. Advantages of EPR:
· Shifts responsibility from government to producers.
· Ensures cost internalization in product prices.