Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a growing used around the world to strengthen e-waste management policies by assisting in the improvement of recycling and waste reduction in order to protect the environment In India, the Central Pollution Control Board has approved Extended Producer Responsibility. Under the new Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR). Policy, producers bear major physical and financial responsibility for the treatment and disposal of discarded consumer products.

The State Pollution Control Board was inept or failed to manage e-waste created or generated within the state, according to the ministry, which now says it is governed by the Central Pollution Control Board.

The 2001 OECD Guidance defines Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as "an environmental policy approach in which a producer's responsibility for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of the product's life cycle."

Online EPR Authorization / EPR Certificate Request

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a system in which the producer is responsible for the channelization, collection, storage, transportation, environmentally sound disassembly, recycling, and rehabilitation of Electrical and Electronic Waste.

India's electronic waste

According to industry estimates, India's economy produced approximately 18 lakh metric tonnes of e-waste in 2016, accounting for roughly 12% of worldwide e-waste output. India is the world's fifth largest producer of E-waste, recycling less than 2% of total E-waste created annually. The government implemented Extended Producer Responsibility, which requires producers to collect 30 percent to 70 percent of the e-waste they generate over a seven-year period. - A joint report by ASSOCHAM and KPMG. Computer devices produce nearly 70% of e-waste, with the telecom sector contributing 13%, electric equipment 9%, and medical equipment 8% of annual e-waste output. Government entities, public entities, and private entities account for almost 76 per cent of electronic waste, with individual households accounting for only 16 per cent. Despite the government's focus on "Clean India," India produces the most e-waste in comparison to China, the United States, Japan, and Germany.

Maharashtra produces the most e-waste (19.8%), but only recycles about 47810 TPA (Tonnes Per Annum), while Tamil Nadu recycles about 52427 TPA, Utter Pradesh recycles about 86130 TPA, West Bengal at 9.8%, Delhi 9.5 per cent, Karnataka 8.9%, Gujarat 8.8%, and Madhya Pradesh 7.6%.

Guidelines for implementing the E-Waste (Management) Rules 2016 were prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board.

The ASSOCHAM-NEC E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, established the principle of Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR), which states that the manufacturer of electrical and electronic equipment is responsible for handling such equipment after it has reached its "end of life," and therefore is liable for their products.

Effects That Are Negative

Electrical and Electronic Waste Recycling Has Negative Consequences Since electronic waste contains a variety of toxic components such as Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Polybrominated Flame Retardants, Barium, and Lithium, it affects virtually every system of the body. Even the plastic packaging of electronic devices contains Polyvinyl Chloride.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is being implemented (EPR)

The fundamental characteristic of the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, is that the producer of electrical and electronic equipment is responsible for managing such equipment after it has reached its "end of life," meaning that the producer is accountable for their products after the user has discarded them. Extended Producer Responsibility reduces pollution by encouraging producers to develop solutions to reduce pollution. According to the statute, Extended Producers Responsibility Authorization imposes the following obligations on Producers, Manufacturers, Dismantlers, Refurbishes, Dealers, Bulk Consumers, and Collection Centres: -

The manufacturer's responsibilities

• Collect and route e-waste generated during the manufacturing of any electrical and electronic equipment for recycling or disposal. It is the obligation of the manufacturer to work in conformity with the relevant State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
• The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that no environmental damage occurs during the storage and transportation of e-waste. Maintain Form-2 records of all e-waste generated, handled, and disposed of, and make these documents available for inspection by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)
• On or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which the return relates, submit an annual return in prescribed form to the competent State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).

The Producer's Responsibilities

• E-waste created from “end of life” or “end of life” products with the same electrical and electronic equipment code is collected and channelled by the producer.
• A process is created by the producer for channelling e-waste from "end of life" items, including waste collected from distributors and approved service centres. Producers are responsible for disposal in treatment, storage, and disposal facilities; hazardous compounds such as mercury and lead require pre-treatment.
• Producers establish arrangements for the collection of E-waste from previously sold electrical and electronic equipment, such as through a distributor, a Picking Shed, a Producers Responsibility Organization, buyback arrangements, an exchange scheme, or a deposit reimbursement mechanism in the EPR plan.
• Producers provide customer or bulk consumer contact information such as address, email id, toll-free telephone number, or helpline number on their website.
• Producers must generate awareness through media, advertisements, publications, posters, or any other means of communication, as well as product user manuals that come with the equipment.

Collection Centres’ Responsibilities

• Collects e-waste on behalf of the manufacturer, dismantles, recycles, or refurbishes it, including orphaned items.
• Provided that the producer-established collection facilities can also collect e-waste on behalf of dismantles, refurbishes, and recycles, including orphaned items.
• Ensure that the facilities are in compliance with the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) rules and rules, which are updated on a regular basis.
• Ascertain that the e-waste they gather is securely held until it is transported to authorized dismantlers or recycled, as the case may be.
• Ensure that the environment is not harmed during the storage and transportation of e-waste.
• Maintain records in Form-2 of all e-waste handled in accordance with the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) recommendations, and make such documents available for inspection by the CPCB or the applicable State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) as needed.

Dealers' responsibilities

• If the dealer has been selected by the producer to collect e-waste on behalf of the producer, the dealer shall collect the e-waste by providing the consumer with a box, container, or a delimited place to deposit e-waste, or by using a take-back system, and transport the e-waste collected to the collection facility, dismantle, or recycler authorized by the producer.
• The dealer, merchant, or e-retailer must reimburse or deposit the amount according to the take-back procedures. E-waste depositors receive a refund from the producer.
• Every dealer is responsible for securely transporting the e-waste created to authorized dismantlers or recyclers.
• Ensure that no environmental damage occurs during the storage and transportation of e-waste.

Refurbishment responsibilities

• Collect e-waste generated during the refurbishment process and route it through its collection centre to an approved dismantler or recycler.
• Refurbishes should apply to the relevant State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) for a one-time authorization.
• The concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) shall authorize the refurbished on a one-time basis in accordance with form 1(bb), and authorization will be taken approved if no objections are raised within thirty days.
• On a yearly basis, the authorized refurbished will be obliged to provide details of e-waste generated to the relevant State Pollution Control Board.
• Ensure that no environmental damage occurs during the storage and transit of e-waste. Ensure that the refurbishing process has no negative impact on human health or the environment. Ensure that the E-waste created is safely transported to authorized collection facilities, dismantlers, or recyclers.
• On or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which the return relates, submit yearly returns in the prescribed form to the appropriate State Pollution Control Board.
• Keep track of any E-waste handled in Form 2 and make those records available for inspection by the authorized authority.