India’s E-waste management rules 2022

E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. About 95% of e-waste in India is recycled by the informal sector.

Electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) and all of its parts that have been thrown out as waste by their owner without the intention of being reused are referred to as “e-waste.” India, behind China and the United States, is the world’s third-largest producer of electronic waste (Global E-waste Monitor 2020). Human health is adversely affected by the toxins released by this e-waste, which can harm the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and skeletal system. They may also have a sizable impact on the nervous and reproductive systems, causing illness and abnormal births.

The Extended Producer Responsibility of Recycling E-Waste is a requirement set forth in the E-Waste Management Rules of 2016. In order to comply with that, the majority of businesses hired Producer Responsibility Organizations to handle their recycling (PRO). CPCB has 74 PROs registered. The Environment Ministry released a draught regulation in May 2022 that abolishes PRO and dismantlers and transfers all responsibility for recycling to approved recyclers—of which India has very few.

There are now more things that fall under the category of e-waste thanks to new rules that the Center has announced. The Ministry of Environment expanded the number of goods on the list from 21 to 106 in a gazette notification that was published on November 2.

The 86 items on the new e-waste list include appliances for sewing, knitting, weaving, vacuuming, dishwashing, modems, GPS, routers, cordless phones, video cameras, recorders, set top boxes, video games, and more.

The following are the key provisions of the latest e-waste rules in India:

· Restricted the use of toxic materials (including lead, mercury, and cadmium) that have a negative impact on both human health and the environment in the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment.

· Expanded the variety of electronic products covered, including laptops, mobile devices, cameras, etc.

· With goals to climb to 70% and 80% in 2024 and 2025, respectively, producers of electronic goods must make sure that at least 60% of their electronic waste is collected and recycled by 2023.

· These will be reported by businesses online.

· Extended Producer Liability Certificates (similar to the procedure for carbon credits): These will provide the transfer of responsibility for e-waste to a third party.

· ‘Environmental compensation’ will be offered by the businesses who fall short of their goal.

· State governments’ responsibilities include allocating industrial space for e-waste dismantling and recycling facilities, developing industrial skills, and implementing policies to safeguard the health and safety of workers at these facilities.

· Producers will be responsible to make the finished item recyclable.

· The compatibility of a component produced by various manufacturer to be assured.

· The Central Pollution Control Board’s responsibility is to randomly sample the electrical and electronic equipment that is put on the market in order to monitor and confirm that the regulations for the reduction of hazardous substances are being followed.

According to the notification, the revised E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, would take effect in the next fiscal year. The regulations provide an Extended Producer Responsibility Framework, under which, as needed, the manufacturer, producer, refurbisher, or recycler of electronic items must obligitively register under one or more of these headings. Authorized Recyclers will now collect a certain amount of trash, recycle it, and produce electronic certifications. Companies don’t have to deal with hiring PROs and dismantlers because they can purchase these certificates in the amount of their annual committed aim.

An effective market-based incentive is required to encourage voluntary adoption of e-waste recycling on the part of supply and demand side stakeholders. In this regard, the e-waste clinic in Bhopal is a trial initiative that needs to be evaluated for success. E-waste will be collected door to door or may be deposited directly at the clinic in exchange for a charge.