The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has recently revised the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, to create a more comprehensive and environmentally sustainable framework for managing electronic waste (e-waste) in India. The updated rules, notified in November 2022, came into effect on April 1, 2023. These new regulations aim to ensure that e-waste is managed in a way that prevents harm to human health and the environment. By promoting proper recycling and disposal of electronic waste, the rules are intended to protect the environment from the adverse effects caused by e-waste.
One of the primary objectives of the revised rules is to introduce a more robust Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for e-waste management. The new system requires manufacturers, producers, refurbishers, and recyclers of electronic goods to register on a portal developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This portal is designed to formalize the recycling sector, ensuring that the informal recycling operations are integrated into the formal sector. By doing so, it aims to promote environmentally sound recycling practices and reduce the harm caused by improper disposal of e-waste.
The rules also emphasize the importance of a circular economy, encouraging the recycling, reuse, and proper disposal of e-waste. Through the EPR regime, the rules ensure that producers take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, including the post-consumer phase. Producers are required to register on the EPR portal, set targets for e-waste management, and submit quarterly and annual reports. These reports help track progress and ensure that producers fulfill their obligations regarding e-waste recycling.
The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 also align with the goals of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, India’s national cleanliness mission. They focus on reducing e-waste, promoting its reuse, and ensuring that e-waste is disposed of in an environmentally sustainable manner. These measures are designed to conserve resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support the broader agenda of sustainable development. By encouraging recycling and proper disposal, the rules contribute to the country’s efforts to achieve a circular economy and greater resource efficiency.
Under the new rules, both urban and rural local bodies are tasked with ensuring that e-waste is properly segregated and collected if it is mixed with municipal solid waste. The local bodies are also responsible for ensuring that orphaned products—those that no longer have a producer or are no longer in use—are collected and directed to registered recyclers or refurbishers. To facilitate this, the rules call for the establishment of e-waste collection and segregation systems across the country, as well as capacity-building programs for local bodies to ensure proper management.
Producers of electronic products are also mandated to take responsibility for e-waste management. These producers must implement EPR targets, create public awareness campaigns, and file returns on their e-waste activities. The producers’ efforts are monitored through the EPR portal, which allows for greater transparency and accountability in e-waste management. The portal also enables the auditing of stakeholders, ensuring that all participants in the e-waste management process are complying with the rules.
The government has also launched an action plan to enhance awareness about e-waste management and improve the infrastructure for recycling across the country. The plan is being implemented through State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs). Key components of the action plan include mass awareness campaigns, targeting informal e-waste traders and recyclers, and coordinating with state governments and local bodies to develop capacity for e-waste management. Efforts to identify and regulate informal activities are a key part of this action plan, with the SPCBs working alongside district administrations to identify and control illegal e-waste operations.
By integrating more stakeholders and improving the transparency of the process through the EPR portal, the government aims to create a more effective and accountable system for managing e-waste. The goal is to establish a clear framework that supports sustainable recycling practices, reduces the environmental impact of e-waste, and promotes a circular economy.
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