MoEFC notifies Draft E-Waste (Management) Rules

On May 19, 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has published the E-Waste (Management) Draft Rules which shall apply to every Manufacturer, Producer, Recycler, Refurbisher.

Key points:

• In case, any registered entity furnishes false information or willfully conceals information for getting registration or return /report/information required to be provided/furnished under this regulation or in case of any irregularity, the registration of such entity may be revoked by CPCB for a period up to three-years after giving an opportunity to be heard. In addition, environmental compensation charges may also be levied as per rule 28 in such cases.
  
• In case any entity is manufacturer as well producer then the entity shall register under those categories separately.
• The CPCB may charge registration fee and annual maintenance charges from the applicants based on capacity of e-waste generated/recycled/handled by them @ decided by CPCB with the approval of the steering committee.
• Responsibilities of the manufacturer:
  

1. 1. all manufacturer shall have to register on online portal created for the purpose;
   2. collect e-waste generated during the manufacture of any electrical and electronic equipment and ensure its recycling or disposal;
   3. file annual and quarterly returns in the prescribed Form on the portal of Central Pollution Control Board on or before end of the month succeeding the quarter/year to which the return relates.

• Responsibilities of the producer: The producer of electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I shall be responsible for –
  

1. 1. registration on the online portal created for the purpose;
   2. shall obtain and implement Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) target as per Schedule III through online portal of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB);
      Provided that producer having EPR Plan under the provisions of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 prior to the date of coming into force of these rules shall migrate under these rules as per the procedure laid down by CPCB with approval of Steering Committee.
   3. Creating awareness through media, publications, advertisements, posters, or by any other means of communication.
   4. File annual and quarterly returns in the prescribed Form on the portal on or before end of the month succeeding the quarter/year to which the return relates.
      

• Responsibilities of the refurbisher:

1. 1. All refurbisher shall have to register on online portal created for the purpose;
   2. collect e-waste generated during the process of refurbishing and hand over the waste to registered recycler and upload information on the portal;
   3. ensure that the refurbished equipment shall be as per Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) of MeitY/BIS, devised for this purpose.
   4. file annual and quarterly returns in the prescribed Form on the portal on or before end of the month succeeding the quarter/year to which the return relates.