Features of E-Waste (Management) Rules 2022

Features of E-Waste (Management) Rules 2022

Subject : Environment

Context: Ministry has notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 on 2nd November, 2022. These rules will replace E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and will be effective from 1st April, 2023.

Concept:

• These rules will launch a new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime for e-waste recycling.
• The CPCB and SPCBs have been monitoring the units and necessary steps have been taken to mainstream and modernise the recycling industry with the help of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

 The salient feature of new rules is as under:

• Applicable to every manufacturer, producer, refurbisher, dismantler and recycler.
• All the manufacturer, producer, refurbisher and recycler are required to register on portal developed by CPCB.
• No entity shall carry out any business without registration and also not deal with any unregistered entity.
• Authorization has now been replaced by Registration through online portal and only manufacturer, producer, refurbisher and recycler require Registration.
• Schedule I expanded and now 106 EEE has been include under EPR regime.
• Producers of notified EEE, have been given annual E-Waste Recycling targets based on the generation from the previously sold EEE or based on sales of EEE as the case may be. Target may be made stable for 2 years and starting from 60% for the year 2023-2024 and 2024-25; 70% for the year 2025-26 and 2026-27 and 80% for the year 2027-28 and 2028-29 and onwards.
• Management of solar PV modules /panels/ cells added in new rules.
• The quantity recycled will be computed on the basis of end products, so as to avoid any false claim.
• Provision for generation and transaction of EPR Certificate has been introduced.
• Provisions for environment compensation and verification & audit has been introduced.
• Provision for constitution of Steering Committee to oversee the overall implementation of these rules.
• Under the E-Waste Management Rules, provision for reduction of hazardous substances in manufacturing of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) has been provided. It mandates that every producer of EEE and their components shall ensure that their products do not contain lead, mercury and other hazardous substances beyond the maximum prescribed concentration.
• The E-Waste (Management) Rules also provide for recognition and registration, skill development, monitoring and ensuring safety and health, of workers involved in dismantling and recycling of e-waste.

Targets of Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging 

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging on 16th February 2022.
• The Guidelines stipulates mandatory targets on producers, importers and brand owners for reuse of rigid plastic packaging, minimum level of recycling of plastic packaging waste and minimum use of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging
• The EPR target for plastic packaging made from compostable plastic is 100 % from 2023-2024