India’s E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 were published on November 2, 2022 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The rules, which came into effect on April 1, 2023, stipulate obligations of electric and electronic equipment producers such as fulfilling EPR recycling targets and compliance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substance (RoHS) standards. Centralized portals are also established for issuing and trading Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates and for levying environmental compensation in case of non-compliance.

 

Past Amendments

  • E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022
  • E-Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2023
  • E-Waste (Management) Second Amendment Rules, 2023
  • E-Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2024

 

About E-Waste Management Rules

Target Products

(*Categories of electrical and electronic equipment including their components, consumables, parts and spares covered under the rules)

  • Information technology and telecommunication equipment: [Item codes: ITEW1 to 27]: inverters, modems, electronic data storage devices
  • Consumer Electrical and Electronics: [Item codes: CEEW1 to 19]: Digital cameras
  • Large and Small Electrical and Electronic Equipment [Item codes: LSEEW1 to 34]: Indoor air purifiers, hair dryers, electric shavers, electric kettles, electronic display panels/boards/visual display units
  • Electrical and Electronic Tools (With the exception of large- Scale Stationary Industrial Tools) [Item codes: EETW1 to 8]
  • Toys, Leisure and Sports Equipment [Item codes: TLSEW1 to 6]
  • Medical Devices (With the Exception of All Implanted and Infected Products) [Item codes: MDW1 to 10]: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanners, Computed Tomography (CT) Scanners
  • Laboratory Instruments [Item codes: LIW1 to 2]: Gas analysers, Equipment having electrical and electronic components

 

E-Waste Recycling Targets (Schedule III and Schedule IV)

Schedule III:

Year (Y) E-Waste Recycling Target (by weight)
2023-24 60% of the quantity of an EEE placed in the market in year Y-X
2024-25 60% of the quantity of an EEE placed in the market in year Y-X
2025-26 70% of the quantity of an EEE placed in the market in year Y-X
2026-27 70% of the quantity of an EEE placed in the market in year Y-X
2027-28 80% of the quantity of an EEE placed in the market in year Y-X
2028-29 and onwards 80% of the quantity of an EEE placed in the market in year Y-X

*X: Average life of that product
*E-waste recycling target shall be reviewed and may be increased after the end of year 2028-2029.

 

Schedule IV:

Fiscal Year E-Waste Recycling Target (by weight)
2023-2024 15% of the sales figure of financial year 2021-22
2024-2025 20% of the sales figure of financial year 2022-23
2025-2026 onwards 20% of the sales figure of the financial year two years back

 

The Rules that have been promulgated at this time also newly include provisions for the management of photovoltaic modules, panels, or cells, which, apart from the above recycling targets, impose the following obligations on manufacturers and producers. The materials specified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) must be collected by recycling operators.

  • Manufacturers and producers must register on the dedicated online portal.
  • Waste generated shall be stored until 2034-35 in accordance with the guidelines established by the CPCB.
  • Annual returns must be filed through the dedicated online portal up to the year 2034-35.
  • Waste other than solar photovoltaic modules or panels or cells must be processed in accordance with applicable rules or guidelines for the time being in force.
  • Inventory of photovoltaic modules or panels or cells must be clearly listed on the dedicated online portal.
  • Manufacturers and producers must comply with standard operating procedures and guidelines laid down by the CPCB.

 

In addition, when trading EPR certificates (Art.15), producers shall add the unachieved amount of the past year’s target to the EPR recycling target for the relevant year, and may purchase EPR certificates for a maximum of 5% of the liability for the relevant year.

 

Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)

For the same target products, RoHS standards of 6 substances are in place as follows:

Hazarous Substances Max. Concentration Value
Lead 0.1%
Mercury
Hexavalent Chromium
Polybrominated Biphenyls
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers
Cadmium 0.01%