Overview of EPR Authorization for E-Waste Management

The EPR Authorization for E-Waste Management means the approval or permit in terms of the provision of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). An EPR policy shifts a lot of policy responsibility over to the producers and their obligation to finance or otherwise manage post-consumer products. In the case of e-waste management, this translates to the fact that the producer, importer, or brand manager of the electronic and electrical equipment is required to take responsibility of the collection, recycling and sound disposal of e-waste originating from their products.

It is normally granted by a regulatory agency and it warrants that the producer has the correct strategy and program for the take-back, recycling and reporting of the products upon their end-of-life. The intended purpose is to prevent harms on the environment coming from e-waste disposal by following proper e-waste management.

What is E-Waste?

E-waste or electronic waste are broadly describes loosely discarded, surplus, obsolete, broken, electrical or electronic devices which are at the end of their useful life and need to be disposed or dismantled to recover some valuable components. The problem of e-waste has become an immediate and long term concern as its unregulated and improper accumulation and recycling can lead to major environmental problems endangering not only human and animal health but also environment health due to toxic and other dangerous materials available in them.

Composition:

The quantity of e-waste produced worldwide and poor & improper recycling management present a panic alarm to the environment. Among them harmful substances found in these discarded items are cadmium, lead, lead oxide, antimony, nickel and mercury. These substances are polluting rivers, lakes and seas, and releasing harmful gases into the atmosphere that harmfully affects ecosystems. So we need to adopt a model that reduces the amount of electronic waste.

Sources:

E-waste pollution is caused due to improper disposal and recycling of electronic gadgets such as:

• Smartphones 
• Computers & Laptops 
• Printers 
• Televisions 
• Peripheral devices such as mouse, keyboards 
• Speakers and headphones 
• Electronic toys 
• Batteries and cells 
• Washing machines, Refrigerators 
• MRI Scanners and X-ray machines 
• Cameras 
• Pendrives and DVDs 
• Chargers

Environmental Impact:

Improper disposal of e-waste can lead to water, air and soil pollution because it consistently releases toxic substances during disposal or recycling. This pollution affects ecosystems disturbs food chain, effects wildlife and vegetation, even effects human health, contributing to various environmental problems.

Health Hazards:

Hazardous substances as Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, etc. that are present in the manufacturing process of electronic devices. Disposal of them, without treating it in proper manner, may affect the human health and environment including soil and ground water. Commonly observed effects of such heavy metals on human health can predispose various diseases of the skin, nervous system, kidney and respiratory system. Pregnant women exposed to brominated flame retardants have been shown to give birth to babies with behavioral problems as it interferes with estrogen and thyroid functioning.

Advantages of EPR Authorization for E-Waste Management

• Environmental Protection: EPR makes sure that products’ end-of-life management comes at the cost of the producers, thus eliminating instances of environmental pollution.
• Resource Efficiency: Promotes the recycling and revitalisation of scrap materials from e-waste thus reducing the sourcing of raw materials from the natural world.
• Cost Savings: This is specifically on the premise that the placing of a circular economy will have the impact of reducing costs since there will be utilization of materials meaning that expenses on waste management will also be low.
• Compliance and Legal Benefits: Assists the producers in ensuring that they do not violate the required environmental laws on the disposal of e-waste hence avoiding fines and penalties.
• Consumer Awareness: Raises consumer awareness and thus engages the consumers to take more informed decisions which will in one way lead to better disposal of e-waste.
• Innovation and Design Improvement: Promotes the need of manufacturers to create products that are easy to recycle and to be durable, hence promoting the aspect of change in product design.

Who can register for EPR Authorization for E-waste?

The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 shall apply to every Manufacturer, Producer, Recycler, Re-furbisher and Dismantler involved in manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, refurbishing, dismantling, recycling and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I, including their components, consumables, parts and spares which make the product operational.

As per E-Waste rules 2016, EPR Authorization is required by producers of notified equipments (their components or parts or spares) listed in Schedule I of E-Waste Management Rules, 2016 and it is a permission to a producer for managing Extended Producers Responsibility with implementation plans and target outlined in such authorization. 

It’s a plan submitted by a producer at the time of applying for Extended Producer Responsibility- Authorization in which a producer shall provide details of e-waste channelization system for targeted collection.

The management of E-Waste in India is presently regulated under E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Further the Rules are effective from 01-04-2023.

Documents Required for EPR Authorization

• EPR Plan (complete as per guidelines and producers for processing application)
• Self-declaration for compliance of Reduction of Hazardous Substance (ROHS) provisions as per the format given in the guidelines and in the procedures of processing application.
• Copies of agreement document with dismantlers, recyclers, and Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) etc.
• Declaration for availability of the technical documents as per EN 50581 of EU
• Copy of the permissions/licenses from the relevant ministry/department for marketing various products or for doing the business such:
• GST Details
• PAN details
• Copy of Incorporation Certificate, if applicable
• Copy of IEC in case of importers
• Self-attested copy of authorization of dismantlers/recyclers
• List of producers attached with the dismantlers/recyclers, along with producer’s collection targets.

The salient features of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 are as follows:

• Provision for imposition and collection of environmental compensation charges in case of violation of any of the provision of these rules; ix. Quarterly and Annual Returns by Producers
• Management of Solar photo-voltaic modules or panel or cells, included in the schedule however, no recycling target only storage till 2034-35;
• Encouraging re-use of EEEs, through generation of Refurbishing Certificate;
• Producers to fulfill their EPR obligation by proportionately purchasing of EPR certificate on the Portal from registered recyclers
• Provision for generation of EPR certificate on the EPR Portal based on E-Waste recycled in terms of four end products (gold, copper, aluminum, iron);
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for the producers of electrical or electronic equipment as given in Schedule-I for meeting recycling targets as per Schedule-III and Schedule-IV, only through registered recyclers of E-Waste to ensure environmentally sound management of such waste;
• 106 EEEs Electrical and Electronic Equipment means equipment which are dependent on electric current or electro-magnetic field in order to become functional and also the equipment for the generation, transfer and measurements of the electricity. under seven categories have been covered;
• Focuses on recycling - E-Waste recycling targets as EPR Obligation to Producers in terms of end products of recycling;
• Audit of stakeholders.

The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 shall not apply to whom?

• Waste batteries as covered under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022;
• Packaging plastics as covered under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016;
• Micro enterprise as defined in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act,2006 (27 of 2006); and
• Radio-active wastes as covered under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (33 of 1962) and rules made there under.

Compulsory Registration for EPR Authorization E-Waste

• The entities shall register on the portal in any of the following category, namely: - (a) manufacturer; (b) producer; (c) re-furbisher; or (d) recycler.
• In case any entity falls in more than one categories under sub-rule (1), then the entity shall register under those categories separately.
• No entity referred in sub-rule (1) shall carry out any business without registration.
• The entities registered under sub-rule (1) shall not deal with any unregistered manufacturer, producer, recycler and re-furbisher.
• Where any registered entity furnishes false information or willfully conceals information for getting registration or return or report or information required to be provided or furnished under these rules or in case of any irregularity, the registration of such entity may be revoked by the Central Pollution Control Board for a period up to three-years after giving an opportunity to be heard and in addition, environmental compensation charges may also be levied as per rule 22 in such cases.
• The Central Pollution Control Board may charge such registration fee and annual maintenance charges from the entities seeking registration under these rules based on capacity of e-waste generated or recycled or handled by them as laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board with the approval of the Steering Committee.

Process of getting EPR Authorization for E-Waste

For getting EPR Authorization for E-Waste Authorization, The Applicant must fill form 1 given Central Pollution Control Board along with prescribed documents and information which is asked in the portal. After the submitted documents and information get verified by the officials, the CPCB will grant you a certificate of EPR for E-Waste.

Any person aggrieved by an order of suspension or cancellation or refusal of registration or its renewal passed by the Central Pollution Control Board, within a period of thirty days from the date on which the order is communicated to him, prefer an appeal to the Additional Secretary or Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change duly nominated by the Central Government in this regard. (2) The Appellate Authority may entertain the appeal after expiry of the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.

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