The Union Ministry of Environment has notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Key points
- These rules will come into effect from 1 April 2023.
- The rules apply to every manufacturer, producer refurbisher, dismantler and recycler involved in manufacturing, sale, transfer, purchase, refurbishing, dismantling, recycling and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment.
- However this rule shall not be applicable to waste batteries as covered under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, packaging plastics as covered under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, micro enterprise as defined in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 and radio-active wastes as covered under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
- The number of items that come under the e-waste category has been increased to 106 from 21.
- The rules introduces an Extended Producer Responsibility Framework whereby the manufacturer, producer, refurbisher or recycler of the e-products need to compulsorily register under one or more of these categories, if applicable.
- The rules mandate to reduce the use of lead, mercury, cadmium among others in the manufacturing of electronic equipment that have an adverse impact on human health and the environment.
- Manufacturer shall use the technology or methods so as to make the end product recyclable and shall ensure that component or part made by different manufacturer are compatible with each other so as to reduce the quantity of e-waste.
- The Central Pollution Control Board shall conduct random sampling of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market to monitor and verify the compliance of reduction of hazardous substances provision.
- Imports or placement in the market for new electrical and electronic equipment shall be permitted only for those which are compliant with provisions laid down by the government.
- If a product does not comply with the e-waste management rules, the manufacturer will have to withdraw all samples from the market.
