DENR assures firms of aid for EPR law compliance

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has assured companies of maximum assistance to help them comply with the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, as the agency allayed concerns of large businesses over possible EPR law violation penalties over waste generated from plastic packaging.

DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas Leones said the government is emphasizing incentives for compliant companies instead of penalizing businesses.

“The DENR is here. We are not discussing penalties here. We’re discussing the incentives for obliged enterprises (OEs) that will comply with the EPR law. The DENR is here to assist OEs and even MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) in registering,” Leones said in a statement.

The country is entering the initial phase of the EPR law implementation as mandated by Republic Act 11898, which became effective in August last year.

Under the EPR law, companies may apply for incentives following the approval processes in the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

The DENR said it is collaborating with the Department of Finance to formulate policies related to fiscal incentives.

The law enjoins enterprises that generate plastic packaging to establish EPR programs for comprehensive management of plastic packaging waste throughout its lifecycle.

The programs should comply with waste reduction, recovery and diversion, employing efficient methods that will prevent plastic waste from leaking into the environment.

“I think the EPR law is one step forward to systematic waste management. We just need collaboration between the government and the industry. We should work together,” Leones said.

By the end of the year, OEs should demonstrate the recovery and diversion of 20 percent of their 2022 plastic packaging footprint. This target will increase each year with a goal of recovering at least 80 percent of the plastic waste generated by the industry by 2028.