Introduction To Extended Producers Responsibility EPR India

Extended Producer Responsibility is a growing mechanism worldwide to improve e-waste Management policy to help improve recycling and reduce waste to protect Environment. In India, Extended Producer Responsibility has been authorized by Central pollution control board. Producers have significant Responsibility, Physical and financial, for the treatment and disposal of used consumer products under the new Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Policy.

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State pollution control Board has not been competent or failed to manage e-waste, produced or generated within the state, now the ministry said it is regulated by Central Pollution Control Board.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is defined in the 2001 OECD Guidance as “an environmental policy approach in which a producer’s responsibility for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of a product’s life cycle”

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Extended Producer responsibility is a mechanism in which the producer is responsible for channelization, collection, storage, transportation, environmentally sound dismantling, recycling and refurbishment of Electrical and Electronic Waste.

Central Pollution Control Board prepared guidelines on the implementation of E-Waste (Management) Rules 2016.

Electronic Waste in India

As per industry estimates, India economy produced nearly 18 lakh metric tonnes of e-waste in the year 2016 which comes out to be around 12 percent of the global e-waste production, India is the fifth largest producer of E-waste in the world and recycles less than two percent of total E-waste it produces annually. The government introduced Extended Producer Responsibility which makes producers liable to collect 30 percent to 70 percent (Over seven years ) of the e-waste they produce - ASSOCHAM-KPMG joint study.  Nearly 70% of e-waste is generated from computer devices, with the contribution of telecom sector being 13%, electric equipment being 9% and medical equipment being 8%, of the annual e-waste production.

The Government companies, public companies, and private companies generate nearly 76% of electronic waste, with the contribution of the individual households being only 16%. Despite the government emphasis on Clean India, India Contributes the highest E-waste in Respect of China, USA, Japan, Germany.

India, Maharashtra produces the largest e-waste of 19.8% but recycles only about 47810 TPA (Tonnes Per Annum) whereas its counterparts Tamilnadu at 13% recycles about 52427 TPA, Utter Pradesh at 10.1% recycles about 86130 TPA, West Bangle at 9.8%, Delhi 9.5%, Karnataka 8.9%, Gujrat 8.8%, and Madhya Pradesh 7.6% -As per a joint study of

ASSOCHAM-NEC 

E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, set the principal for Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) wherein the producer of electrical and electronic equipment has the responsibility of managing such equipment after its ‘end of life’, thus the producer is responsible for their products.

Harmful Effects

Harmful effects caused by Electrical and Electronic Waste Recycling Electronic waste affects nearly every system of the body because they contain a plethora of toxic components including Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Polybrominated Flame Retardants, Barium and Lithium, Even the Plastic casing of electronic products contain Polyvinyl Chloride:

Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Recycling

Extended producer’s responsibility (EPR) is the main feature of the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, wherein the producer of electrical and electronic equipment has the responsibility of managing such equipment after its ‘end of life’, thus the producer is responsible for their products once the consumer discards them. Extended Producer Responsibility minimizes the environmental impact by encouraging them to find ways to reduce the pollution. As per the act, Extended Producer Responsibility Authorization create liability for Producer, Manufacturer Dismantler, Refurbisher, Dealer, Bulk Consumer, Collection Center, which are as following:-

Responsibilities of the Manufacturer

• Collect e-waste generated during the manufacturing of any electrical and electronic equipment and channelize it for recycling or disposal Manufacturer has the responsibility to work in accordance with the concerned State pollution Control Board (SPCB).
• Manufacturer has the responsibility to ensure that no damage is caused to the environment during storage and transportation of e-waste Maintain records of the e-waste generated, handled and disposed in form-2 and make such records available for scrutiny by the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)
• File annual return in prescribed form, to the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) on or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates.

Responsibilities of the Producer

• Producer is accountable for collection and channelization of e-waste generated from “end of life” or “end of life” products with same electrical and electronic equipment code
• Producer makes a mechanism used for channelization of e-waste from “end of life” products including wasted collected from distributor and authorized service centers Producer is responsible for disposal in treatment, storage and disposal, a pre-treatment is necessary for hazardous substances such as mercury and lead
• Producers make arrangements for the collection of E-waste from the electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market earlier, such as through distributors, Picking Shed, Producers Responsibility Organization, by way of buyback arrangements, exchange scheme, deposit refund system in EPR plan.
• Producers provide contact details such as address, email id, toll-free telephone number or helpline number to consumer or bulk consumer through their website
• Producers have to organize awareness programme and create awareness through media, advertisement, publication, poster or by any other means of communication and product user documentation accompanying the equipment. 

Responsibilities of Collection Centers

• Collect e-waste on behalf of producer or dismantler or recycler or refurbisher including those arising from orphaned products
• Provided the collection centres established by producer can also collect e-waste on behalf of dismantler, refurbisher and recycler including those arising from orphaned products
• Ensure that the facilities are in accordance with the standards and guidelines issued by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from time to time
• Ensure that the e-waste collected by them is stored in a secured manner till it is sent to authorized dismantler or recycler as the case may be
• Ensure that no damage is caused to the environment during storage and transportation of e-waste
• Maintain records in form-2 of the e-waste handled as per guidelines of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and make such records available for scrutiny by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) as and when asked for.

Responsibilities of dealers

• In case the dealer has been given the responsibility of collection on behalf of the producer, the dealer shall collect the e-waste by providing the consumer a box, bin or a demarcated area to deposit e-waste or through take back system and send the e-waste so collected to collection center or dismantler or recycler as designated by producer;
• The dealer or retailer or e-retailer  shall refund the amount as per take back system or deposit Refund scheme of the producer to the depositor of E-waste
• Every dealer shall ensure that the e-waste thus generated is safely transported to authorized dismantlers or recyclers
• Ensure that no damage is caused to the environment during storage and transportation of e –waste

Responsibilities of refurbished

• Collect e-waste generated during the process of refurbishing and channelize that waste to authorized dismantler or recycler through its collection center
• Refurbisher make an application to the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) for grant of one - time authorization
• The concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB ) shall authorize the refurbisher on one time basis as per form 1(bb) and authorization would be deemed as considered if not objected to within a period of thirty days
• The authorized refurbisher shall be required to submit details of e-waste generated to the concerned State Pollution Control Board on yearly basis;
• Ensure that no damage is caused to the environment during storage and transportation of e-waste
• Ensure that the refurbishing process does not have any adverse effect on the health and the environment
• Ensure that the E-waste thus generated is safely transported to authorized collection centers or dismantlers or recyclers
• File annual returns in the prescribed form to the concerned State Pollution Control Board, on or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which the return relates
• Maintain records of the E-waste handled in form-2 and such records should be available for scrutiny by the appropriate authority

Responsibilities of Consumer or Bulk Consumer

• Consumers or Bulk consumers of electrical and electronic equipment listed in scheduled I of the act shall ensure that e-waste generated by them is channelized through collection center or dealer of authorized producer or dismantler or recycler or through the designated take back services provider of the producer to the authorized dismantler or recycler;
• Bulk consumers of electrical and electronic equipment listed in scheduled I shall maintain records of e-waste generated by them in Prescribed Form and make such records available for scrutiny by the Concerned State Pollution Control board (SPCB)
• Consumers or bulk consumers of electrical and electronic equipment listed in Scheduled I shall ensure that such end of life of electrical and electronic equipment are not admixed with e-waste containing radioactive material as covered under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and rules made there under
• Bulk consumers of electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I shall file annual return in the prescribed form to the concerned Sate Pollution Control Board (SPCB) on or before the 30th day June following the financial year to which the return relates
• In case of the bulk consumer with multiple offices in a state, one annual return combining information from all the offices shall be filed to the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) on or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates; 

Responsibilities of Dismantlers

• Ensure that the and dismantling processes are in accordance with the standards or guidelines prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board from time to time
• Obtain authorization from the concerned State Pollution Control Board in accordance with the procedure under sub-rule (3) of rule 13
• Ensure that no damage is caused to the environment during storage and transportation of E-waste
• Ensure that the dismantling processes do not have any adverse effect on the health and the environment;
• Ensure that dismantled e-waste are segregated and sent to the authorized recycling facilities for recovery of materials;
• Ensure that non-recyclable or non-recoverable components are sent to authorized treatment storage and disposal facilities;
• Maintain records of e-waste collected, dismantled and sent to the authorized recycler in Form-2 and make such record available for scrutiny by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)
• File a return in prescribed form, to the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) as the case may be, on or before 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates
• Not process any e-waste for recovery or refining of materials, unless he is authorized with concerned State Pollution Control Board ( SPCB) as a recycler for refining and recovery of materials
• Operation without Authorization by any dismantler, as defined in this rule, shall be considered as causing damage to the environment

Responsibilities of the recycler

• Shall ensure that the facilitate and recycling processes are in accordance with the standards or guidelines prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board from time to time
• Obtain authorization from concerned State Pollution Control Board in accordance with the procedure under the sub-rule (3) of rule 13
• Ensure that no damage is caused to the environment during storage and transportation of e-waste
• Ensure that the recycling processes do not have any adverse effect on the health and the environment;
• Make available all records to the Central Pollution Control Board or the concerned State Pollution Control Board for inspection
• Ensure that the fractions or material not recycled in its facilitate is sent to the respective authorized recyclers
• Ensure that residue generated during recycling process is disposed of in an authorized treatment storage disposal facilitate
• Maintain the record of e-waste collected, dismantled, recycled and sent to authorized recycler in Form-2 and make such record available for scrutiny by the Central Pollution Control Board or the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)
• File annual returns in Form-3, to the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) as the case may be, on or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates
• May accept waste electrical and electronic equipment or components not listed in Schedule I for recycling provided that they do not contain any radioactive material and same shall be indicated while taking the authorization from concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)
• Operation without Authorization by any recycler, as defined in this rule, shall be considered as causing damage to the environment.