Centre issues e-waste management rules

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre issues e-waste management rules” published in Livemint on 11th November 2022.

What is the News?

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has published the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. The rules shall come into force from the 1st day of April, 2023.

What are the key provisions of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022?

Applicability of rules: The rules are applicable to every manufacturer, producer, refurbisher, dismantler and recycler involved in the manufacturing, sale, transfer, purchase, refurbishing, dismantling, recycling and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment.

– However, these rules do not apply to waste batteries, packaging plastics, micro-enterprises and radio-active waste as they are already covered under the other provisions of the law.

Reduce the use of Hazardous substances: The rules mandate to reduce use of lead, mercury, and cadmium among others in the manufacturing of electronic equipment that has an adverse impact on human health and the environment.

Recycle products: It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to collect e-waste generated during manufacture and to ensure its recycling or disposal.

– Manufacturers shall use the technology or methods so as to make the end product recyclable. Further, they shall ensure that components or parts made by different manufacturers are compatible with each other so as to reduce the quantity of e-waste. 

Role of CPCB: 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 provisions.

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 rules, the manufacturer will have to withdraw all samples from the market.