India amends Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, relaxing of returns deadlines, price range of EPR certificates and more

On March 12, 2024, the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) promulgated the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2024, amending the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 partially.

The main changes include i) relaxation of return deadlines under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime for waste tyres and used oil, ii) setting of price range for EPR certificates, as well as iii) allowing import of post-industrial or pre-consumer polyethylene waste, subject to conditions. Excluding certain articles, the amendments came into force on the same day.