The rules also introduce penalties for non-compliance, regular inspections, and audits. Additionally, they promote a
The amount of electronic waste (e-waste) has been growing over the years because more people are using electrical and electronic devices. This increase in e-waste is directly linked to economic growth and advancements in technology.
The government has updated the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, and introduced new E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, which came into effect on April 1, 2023. The purpose of these rules is to make sure that e-waste is handled in a way that protects both people’s health and the environment from any harmful effects caused by e-waste.
The new rules require manufacturers, producers, refurbishers, and recyclers to register on a special portal created by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This system improves e-waste recycling and encourages businesses to shift from informal to formal recycling methods.
The new rules will help move small, unregistered e-waste businesses into the formal sector, making it easier for them to operate legally and recycle e-waste in a safe and eco-friendly way. They also introduce fines for environmental violations and require regular checks to ensure compliance. Additionally, these rules support a “Circular Economy,” where old electronic products are reused or recycled properly to reduce waste and protect the environment.
Currently, there are 322 registered recyclers and 72 registered refurbishers with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that handle the recycling and refurbishing of e-waste. As of February 9, 2025, the 322 recyclers have a total processing capacity of 22,08,918.064 metric tons (MT) per year, while the 72 refurbishers can process 92,042.18 MT per year. Additionally, the CPCB has taken several steps to ensure the effective management of e-waste rules.
- The CPCB has created an online portal for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, where companies involved in e-waste like producers, manufacturers, recyclers, and refurbishers—must register.
- The CPCB has developed guidelines to ensure e-waste is managed in an eco-friendly way. These guidelines include details on the machines and pollution control systems needed to safely recycle e-waste.
iii. An action plan for implementing the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 is in place and being carried out by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in each state and union territory. They report their progress every quarter and are actively checking informal e-waste activities.
- According to Rule 10(1) of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, state governments are responsible for setting aside areas or spaces in industrial parks for e-waste dismantling and recycling in both existing and new industrial zones.
- The CPCB has issued the following instructions to the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) to help enforce the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022:
- On September 6, 2022, instructions were given to check informal e-waste activities, verify authorized dismantlers and recyclers, and organize awareness campaigns under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
- On January 30, 2024, instructions were issued for producers, manufacturers, recyclers, and refurbishers to register on the Online E-Waste EPR Portal, as per the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- On February 14, 2024, directions were issued for e-waste recyclers to generate EPR Certificates to meet producers’ EPR obligations for the financial year 2023-24, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
This information was shared by Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
