E-Waste Management Rules, 2022

The Rules were notified on 2 November 2022 and entered into force on 1 April 2023. They are designed to regulate the e-waste ecosystem in India by governing the activities of every manufacturer, producer, refurbisher, dismantler and recycler involved in the life cycle of specified electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). 

Key provisions of the Rules are set out below:

• Collection and recycling: All manufacturers are mandated to collect e-waste generated during manufacture of any EEE and ensure its recycling or disposal.
• Manufacturing: Manufacturers are mandated to use technology to make the end-product recyclable.
• Extended Producer Responsibility: Every producer of specified EEE is required to meet recycling targets as per Schedule-III and Schedule-IV to ensure environmentally sound management of waste. This obligation is achieved through the online purchase of extended producer responsibility certificates from registered recyclers and would extinguish only after end-of-life disposal.
• Recycling targets: As of 2023 -2024, the recycling target for producers is 60% of the quantity of an EEE placed in the market in the year-X, where ‘X’ is the average life of that product. This target would increase to 80% by 2027-2028. For importers of used EEE the target is 100% for the imported material after end of life, if not re-exported.
• PV modules: Manufacturers and producers of PV modules, panels or cells are required to store waste generated up to the year 2034- 2035 and ensure the processing of the waste. Recyclers of PV modules, panels or cells are mandated to recover certain specified materials.

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