E-waste (management) rules 2022

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Key rules-

• The government has restricted the use of hazardous substances in manufacturing electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) following deaths due to exposure to radioactive materia.
• This is applicable to all electrical devices and radiotherapy equipment, nuclear medicine equipment and accessories, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), electric toys, air conditioners, microwaves, tablets, washing machine, refrigerator and iPad among others.
• The rules mandate to reduce the use of lead, mercury, cadmium among others in the manufacturing of electronic equipment that have an adverse impact on human health and the environment.
• These rules will come into force from 1 April 2023 and apply to every manufacturer, producer refurbisher, dismantler and recycler involved in manufacturing, sale, transfer, purchase, refurbishing, dismantling, recycling and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment.
• The notification said that manufacturers shall use the technology or methods so as to make the end product recyclable and shall ensure that components or parts made by different manufacturers are compatible with each other so as to reduce the quantity of e-waste. 
• The Central Pollution Control Board(CBCB) shall conduct random sampling of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market to monitor and verify the compliance of reduction of hazardous substances provisions.
• Imports or placement in the market for new electrical and electronic equipment shall be permitted only for those which are compliant with provisions laid down by the government. 
• The rules introduces an Extended Producer Responsibility Framework whereby the manufacturer, producer, refurbisher or recycler of the e-products need to compulsorily register under one or more of these categories, if applicable.
• If a product does not comply with the e-waste management rules, the manufacturer will have to withdraw all samples from the market.
• It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to collect e-waste generated during manufacture and to ensure its recycling or disposal. 
• However, the rule does not apply to waste batteries, packaging plastics, micro enterprises and radio-active waste, as covered under the provisions of the law.

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