On 25-7-2023, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the E-Waste (Management) Second Amendment Rules, 2023 to amend the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. The provisions came into effect on 25-7-2023.
Key Points:
1. Responsibilities of Manufacturer, Refurbisher and Recycler have been revised.
Now, by adopting the destruction technologies which are approved as per the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (‘CPCB’), they will have to ensure secure, accountable and sustainable management of refrigerant generated:
• Manufacturer- during the manufacture of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
• Refurbisher- from the end-of life refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
• Recycler- from the end-of life refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
2. Rule 14 relating to Extended producer responsibility Certificate Generation has been revised.
It says that in case where multiple end products have to be recycled, the conversion factor for generation of extended producer responsibility certificate will be determined as per the guidelines issued by the CPCB with the approval of the Steering Committee.
3. Rule 16 focuses on Reduction in the use of hazardous substances in the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment and their components or consumables or parts or spares.
• The new provision (2-A) exempts electrical and electronic equipment specified in Schedule- II C which are placed in the market on or before 1-4-2025 from the provisions of Rule 16 (1).
• The new provision (2-B) exempts components/ consumables/ parts/spares required for electrical and electronic equipment referred in sub-rule (2A) till the 1-4-2028, provided reduction of hazardous substances compliant parts and spares are not available.
4. Schedule- II A has been inserted which relates to “Applications exempted from the provisions of sub-rule 1 of rule 16 specific to medical devices and monitoring and control instruments including laboratory equipment as listed in Schedule – I”.
5. Schedule- II B has been inserted which relates to “Categories of electrical and electronic equipment including their components, consumables, parts and spares covered under the rules”. [Rule 16 (2)]
6. Schedule- II C has been inserted which relates to “Categories of electrical and electronic equipment including their components, consumables, parts and spares covered under the rules”. [Rule 16 (2A) and 16 (2B)]
