Important Provisions of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016

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Important Provisions of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016

  • Micro enterprises as defined in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 i.e. enterprises engaged in manufacture or production goods specified where the investment in plant and machinery does not exceed INR 25,00,000/- or enterprises engaged in providing or rendering services where the investment in equipment does not exceed INR 10,00,000/- are exempted from the provisions of these Rules.
  • Collection of e-waste is exclusively the Producer’s responsibility. The Producer can set up collection centre or point or even can arrange buy back mechanism for such collection. No separate authorization for such collection will be required, which will be indicated in the EPR Plan of Producers.
  • Extended Producer Responsibility Authorization for Producers is the Central Pollution Control Board’s responsibility. Every producer of electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I, is obliged to make an application for Extended Producer Responsibility – Authorisation within 90 days from October 1, 2016 in Form-1 to the Central Pollution Control Board. Form-1 includes the implementation plan of the producer where the producer will give its overall scheme to fulfil its Extended Producer Responsibility for achieving targets and details out the mechanism for collection and channelization of e-waste generated by the producer.
  • The import of electrical and electronic equipment shall be allowed only to producers having Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation.
  • To ensure effective channelization of e-waste, a producer can implement its EPR either through take-back system or by setting up collection centres or both for channelization of e-waste/end of life products to authorised dismantlers/recyclers. The producers are required to have arrangements with authorised dismantlers/recyclers either individually or collectively or through a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) or E-Waste Exchange system as spelt in their EPR Plan which is approved/ authorised by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
  • Responsibilities of the Manufacturer- To collect e-waste generated during the manufacture of any electrical and electronic equipment and channelise it for recycling or disposal; seek authorization from State Pollution Control Board in Form 1(a) through the prescribed process, maintain records of the e-waste generated, handled and disposed in Form-2 and make such records available for scrutiny by the concerned State Pollution Control Board; and file annual returns in Form-3, to the concerned State Pollution Control Board on or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates.
  • Responsibilities of the producer- Implementing the Extended Producers Responsibility as prescribed in Rule 5; make an application for Extended Producer Responsibility – Authorisation within 90 days from October 1, 2016 in Form-1 to the Central Pollution Control Board; maintain records of the e-waste generated, handled and disposed in Form-2 and make such records available for scrutiny by the concerned State Pollution Control Board; and file annual returns in Form-3, to the concerned State Pollution Control Board on or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates.
  • Responsibilities of the dealers- in case a dealer has been given the responsibility of collection on behalf of the producer, the dealer shall collect the e-waste by providing the consumer a box, bin or a demarcated area to deposit e-waste, or through take back system and send the e-waste so collected to collection centre or dismantler or recycler as designated by producer; refund the amount as per take back system or Deposit Refund Scheme of the producer to the depositor of e-waste; e-waste thus generated is safely transported to authorised dismantlers or recyclers; and no damage is caused to the environment during storage and transportation of e-waste.
  • Responsibilities of the refurbisher- collect e-waste generated during the process of refurbishing and channelize the waste to authorised dismantler or recycler through its collection centre; seek one time authorization from SPCB and submit details of e-waste generated to the concerned State Pollution Control Board on a yearly basis; maintain records of the e-waste generated, handled and disposed in Form-2 and make such records available for scrutiny by the concerned State Pollution Control Board; and file annual returns in Form-3, to the concerned State Pollution Control Board on or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates.
  • Responsibility of consumers or bulk consumers- consumers or bulk consumers of electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I shall ensure that e-waste generated by them is channelized through collection centre or dealer of authorised producer or dismantler or recycler or through the designated take back service provider of the producer to authorised dismantler or recycler; end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment are not admixed with e-waste containing radioactive material; maintain records of the e-waste generated, handled and disposed in Form-2 and make such records available for scrutiny by the concerned State Pollution Control Board; and file annual returns in Form-3, to the concerned State Pollution Control Board on or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates.
  • Responsibilities of the dismantler– the facility and dismantling processes are in accordance with the standards or guidelines prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board from time to time; obtain authorisation from the concerned State Pollution Control Board; ensure that no damage is caused to the environment during storage and transportation of e-waste; ensure that the dismantling processes do not have any adverse effect on the health and the environment; ensure that dismantled e-waste are segregated and sent to the authorised recycling facilities for recovery of materials; ensure that non-recyclable or non-recoverable components are sent to authorised treatment storage and disposal facilities; maintain record of e-waste collected, dismantled and sent to authorised recycler in Form-2 and make such record available for scrutiny by the Central Pollution Control Board or the concerned State Pollution Control Board; file a return in Form-3, to the concerned State Pollution Control Board as the case may be, on or before 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates; not process any e-waste for recovery or refining of materials, unless he is authorised with concerned State Pollution Control Board as a recycler for refining and recovery of materials.
  • Responsibilities of the recycler– the facility and recycling processes are in accordance with the standards or guidelines prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board from time to time; obtain authorisation from concerned State Pollution Control Board; no damage is caused to the environment during storage and transportation of e-waste; ensure that the recycling processes do not have any adverse effect on the health and the environment; make available all records to the Central Pollution Control Board or the concerned State Pollution Control Board for inspection; ensure that the fractions or material not recycled in its facility is sent to the respective authorised recyclers; ensure that residue generated during recycling process is disposed of in an authorised treatment storage disposal facility; maintain record of e-waste collected, dismantled, recycled and sent to authorised recycler in Form-2 and make such record available for scrutiny by the Central Pollution Control Board or the concerned State Pollution Control Board; file annual returns in Form-3, to the concerned State Pollution Control Board as the case may be, on or before 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates.
  • Operation without Authorisation by any producer, dismantler or recycler, as defined in these Rules, shall be considered as causing damage to the environment and in punishable under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
  • Storage of E-Waste- Every manufacturer, producer, bulk consumer, collection centre, dealer, refurbisher, dismantler and recycler can store e-waste for not more than 180 days and shall maintain a record of collection, sale, transfer and storage of wastes and make these records available for inspection.
  • Transportation of e-waste– The transportation of e-waste shall be carried out as per the manifest system whereby the transporter shall be required to carry a document (three copies) prepared by the sender, giving the details as per Form-6.
  • The manufacturer, producer, importer, transporter, refurbisher, dismantler and recycler will be liable for all damages caused to the environment or third party due to improper handling and management of the e-waste. They are liable to pay financial penalties as levied for any violation of the provisions under these rules by the State Pollution Control Board with the prior approval of the Central Pollution Control Board.

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