E-Waste Management Rules, 2016
India generates 1.7 million tonnes of e-waste annually, increasing by about 5% each year. For the first time, the 2016 rules introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), making producers responsible for collection and safe disposal of e-waste.
Salient Features:
- Manufacturer, dealer, refurbisher, and Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) included as stakeholders.
- Rules extended to include components, consumables, spares, and parts of EEE.
- CFLs and other mercury-containing lamps brought under the rules.
- Collection Mechanism: Producers to establish collection centres, take-back systems, or use PROs, e-waste exchanges, or deposit-refund schemes.
- Pan-India EPR authorization issued by CPCB.
- Collection targets:
- 30% of EPR plan quantity in the first two years,
- 40% in years 3–4,
- 50% in years 5–6,
- 70% from year 7 onwards.
- Deposit Refund Scheme: Refundable deposits collected at sale and returned on return of product.
- E-waste exchange as an independent platform for sale & purchase of e-waste.
- Manufacturers responsible for collecting and channelizing manufacturing e-waste.
- Dealers to collect e-waste from consumers if mandated by producers.
- Refurbishers to channelize waste generated during refurbishing.
- State Governments tasked with worker health, safety, and skill development.
- Transporters to use manifest system for accountability.
- Municipal bodies to handle “orphan” e-waste (products with unknown producers).
- Financial penalties for environmental damage from mismanagement.
E-Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2018
- Revised EPR targets:
- 10% collection target in 2017–18,
- increasing by 10% annually,
- reaching 70% from 2023 onwards.
- Separate targets for new producers.
- Government bears RoHS testing costs; non-compliance costs are recovered from producers.
E-Waste Management Rules, 2022
The 2022 rules introduced a new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime for e-waste recycling, with several key reforms:
- All manufacturers, producers, refurbishers, and recyclers must register on the CPCB portal.
- Authorization has been replaced by online registration.
- Annual recycling targets for producers based on previous sales of EEE:
- 60% in 2023–24 & 2024–25,
- 70% in 2025–26 & 2026–27,
- 80% from 2027–28 onwards.
- Management of solar PV modules, panels, and cells has been added under the scope of these rules.
- Recycled quantity will be computed based on end products, to prevent false claims.
- Provisions for generation and trading of EPR certificates introduced.
- Provisions for environmental compensation, verification, and audits introduced.
- A Steering Committee will oversee the implementation of the rules.
- Producers of EEE are required to reduce hazardous substances (like lead, mercury) in their products, ensuring levels remain below prescribed maximum concentrations.
- Rules also mandate recognition, registration, skill development, monitoring, and ensuring health & safety of workers involved in dismantling and recycling of e-waste.