The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in India is making strides towards responsible waste management. They have released a draft notification for Electronic Waste Management to the public for feedback. This follows an earlier announcement of rules relating to electronic waste made in 2016, which received amendments in 2018. As part of this initiative, new rules are projected to take effect by August 2022. Prior to this, the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021 had been notified which planned to ban specific single-use plastic items with “low utility and high littering potential” by 2022.
Draft Notification for Electronic Waste Management: Specifics
The notification covers an extensive array of electronic goods such as laptops, mobile phones, cameras, music systems, microwaves, refrigerators, and medical equipment. There’s a target placed on consumer goods companies and electronics manufacturers to ensure that at least 60% of their electronic waste is collected and recycled by 2023, increasing to 70% in 2024, and 80% in 2025. Companies must register on an online portal declaring their annual production and e-waste collection targets.
EPR Certificates and Focus on Circular Economy
The new rules introduce a system of trading in certificates similar to carbon credits, allowing companies to temporarily manage shortfalls efficiently. Companies can secure Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates that validate the quantity of e-waste collected and recycled in a particular year. Companies can then sell surplus quantities to others to help them meet their obligations. In line with the government’s objective to promote a circular economy, these rules highlight the importance of EPR, recycling, and trading.
Penalty and Implementing Authority
Companies that fail to meet their annual targets will have to pay a fine or ‘environmental compensation’. However, the draft does not specify the quantum of these fines. Overseeing the implementation of these regulations is the responsibility of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Responsibility of the State Governments
State governments have been given specific tasks including earmarking industrial space for e-waste dismantling and recycling facilities, undertaking industrial skill development, and establishing measures to protect the health and safety of workers involved in these activities.
What is E-Waste?
E-waste refers to discarded electronic appliances, their components, consumables, parts, and spares. Laws to manage e-waste have been prevalent in India since 2011, mandating authorized dismantlers and recyclers collect e-waste. India established its first e-waste clinic in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh to segregate, process and dispose of waste from households and commercial units.
Challenges Related to Management of E-Waste in India
A primary challenge is the lack of consumer participation in recycling used electronic devices. Moreover, child labor has become a significant issue, with around 4.5 lakh child laborers observed to be engaged in various E-waste activities without proper protection. Besides, ineffective legislation and the absence of public information on most SPCBs/PCC websites pose additional challenges. The handling of e-waste leads to soil and groundwater contamination. Importantly, there are no clear guidelines or incentives for the unorganized sector to handle E-waste.
Way Forward
Several startups and companies within India have begun to collect and recycle electronic waste. There is a need for better implementation methodologies and inclusive policies that provide accommodation and validation for the informal sector to help meet recycling targets in an environmentally sound manner. Raising collection rates requires involvement from every actor, including consumers.