E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 in force since 1st April, 2023 to manage e-waste in an environmentally sound manner with an improved EPR regime in place for e-waste recycling – EQ
In Short : As of April 1, 2023, the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 are in effect. These rules focus on environmentally sound management of electronic waste (e-waste) and introduce an enhanced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime to ensure improved e-waste recycling practices.
In Detail : The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimates the e-waste generation at national level based on the countrywide sales data provided by producers, and average life of notified electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), as mandated under the E-waste Management Rules, 2016. As per the CPCB, e-waste generated and Quantity & percentage of e-waste collected, dismantled and recycled / disposed in the country from twenty-one (21) types of EEE notified under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 during the last three years is given below:
| Financial Year | Generation
|
Quantity of e-waste collected, dismantled and recycled / disposed | |
| (Tonne) | (Tonne) | (%) | |
| 2019-20 | 10,14,961.21 | 2,24,041.0 | 22.07 |
| 2020-21 | 13,46,496.31 | 3,54,291.22 | 26.31 |
| 2021-22 | 16,01,155.36 | 5,27,131.57 | 32.92 |
Ministry has comprehensively revised the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 in November, 2022 and the same is in force since 1st April, 2023. These new rules intend to manage e-waste in an environmentally sound manner and put in place an improved Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime for e-waste recycling wherein all the manufacturer, producer, refurbisher and recycler are required to register on portal developed by CPCB. The new provisions would facilitate and channelize the informal sector to formal sector for doing business and ensure recycling of E-waste in environmentally sound manner. Provisions for environmental compensation and verification & audit has also been introduced. These rules also promote Circular Economy through EPR regime and scientific recycling/disposal of the e-waste.
The electrical and electronic equipment after their useful life when they become e-waste, may not cause any harm to health and environment if it is stored and processed in scientific and environmentally sound manner. However, if un-scientific and crude methods are used for processing for retrieval of useful components or material or if the material is disposed in open, then it may cause health risks and damage to environment. Looking to the impact of e-waste on health and environment, the Government had notified E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016. Further, Ministry has comprehensively revised the previous set of Rules and notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 in November, 2022 and the same is in force since 1st April, 2023. Under these rules, collection and processing of e-waste can be carried out only by registered producers, recyclers and refurbisher.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) advised State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) /Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) to carry out regular drives for checking e-waste processing in informal sector time to time. Actions, such as, constitution of teams for carrying out drives, issuing of notices, closure of operation, seizing the e-waste against the informal processing are being taken by the respective SPCBs/PCCs. CPCB has estimated generation of e-waste based on the sales data and average life of notified EEE.
This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
