E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016

E-wastes are waste generated from IT and telecommunication equipment and consumer electrical and electronics namely television sets (including LCD & LED), refrigerators, washing machines and air-conditioners. They possess serious threat to environment as they are non-biodegradable.

• E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016 were notified to counter the menace of e-wastes. These rules empower the concerned state agencies to control, supervise and regulate relevant activities connected with e-waste management such as collection, segregation, dismantling and recycling.
• Producers are required to set up collection systems and meet the cost involved in the environmentally sound management of e-waste generated from the ‘end of life’ of their own products.
• Besides, threshold limits, which are accepted globally, have been prescribed for six hazardous substances used in manufacture of electrical and electronics components. Producers are expected to achieve ‘Reduction in use of the hazardous substances’ (RoHS) to the prescribed limit.
• In 2018, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released new amendments to the E-Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Key Highlights

• The new amendment aims to formalize the e-waste recycling sector by channelizing the E-waste generated towards approved dismantlers and recyclers.
• “Phase-wise collection” targets for e-waste has been inducted through new rules, which shall be 10% of the quantity of waste generation as indicated in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Plan during 2017-18, with a 10% increase every year until 2023.
• After 2023 onwards, the target has been made 70% of the quantity of waste generation as indicated in the EPR Plan.
• A distinct e-waste collection targets have been drafted for “new producers”, i.e., those producers whose number of years of sales operation is less than the average lives of their products.
• Under new rules, cost for sampling and testing shall be borne by the government for conducting the Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) test and if the product does not comply with RoHS provisions the cost will be borne by the Producers.
• Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) shall apply to the CPCB for registration to undertake activities prescribed in the Rules.