A Guide on EPR Registration for E-waste Producers

EPR for e-waste producers refers to extended producer responsibility for the country’s producers, manufacturers, and exporters of electronic products. EPR authorization is necessary to perform the trade, manufacturing, and sale of these goods in the country without any penalties and legal complications. Even the dealers of refurbished and second-hand electronic items need to furnish the EPR certification from the authorities. They have to comply with the regulations and ensure that their disposal is safe and unharming to the environment. The government established the first law in 2011, based on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which holds manufacturers accountable for managing the last stage of a product’s life in an eco-friendly manner and ensuring ecologically sound management. Every producer/importer of electric or electrical equipment must have an Extended Producer’s Responsibility (EPR) certificate or license. It pushes producers to create environmentally friendly products. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, issues EPR authorizations.

Importance of EPR for E-waste Certification

The importance of EPR for E-waste certifications is –

• EPR is responsible for the promotion of recycling, reusing, and refurbishing electrical products that are beneficial for the producers and manufacturers in cutting the manufacturing cost of the devices.
• EPR certification ensures that the e-waste produced from electrical appliances is disposed of securely and doesn’t harm the environment.
• Through EPR authorization from the CPCB, the value and goodwill of the manufacturer and seller of the product increase.
• EPR has ensured that the country is aiming towards sustainable development and there is less e-waste, which ultimately secures the country’s natural resources.

Application Procedure of EPR for E-waste Producers

The application procedure of EPR for E-waste producers involves the following steps –

• To get the EPR Certification, the producers have to complete all the documents that are required along with the EPR plan, which will be implemented by them.
• The application form has to be filled in the prescribed format to get the EPR authorization.
• The application has to be sent to the authorities in offline mode as well, discussing the detailed EPR for the e-waste plan and the details of the producer.
• The EPR plan and the documents submitted will be evaluated by the CPCB officials for EPR authorization, and if they find any documents missing or misfiled, then it will be notified to the applicant within 25 days of application and will be asked to be amended.
• EPR for E-waste certification is granted by the CPCB chairman after the CPCB officials are done with their scrutiny and find everything as per the regulations.

EPR for E-waste Rules, 2022

Certain rules need to be followed for EPR for E-waste producers. In November 2022, E-waste (Management) Rules were laid down by the Ministry of Environment, forests, and Climate Change that came into effect from 1^st April 2023. These are –

• The producers, manufacturers, recyclers, and re-furbishers must register on the portal and also collect and dispose of the E-waste generated during their work. Each must register under their specific category of nature of work, and if someone is working on more than one field, then it needs to do the portal registration for every act. Without EPR registration, a business is deemed illegal.
• The annual and quarterly reports have to be filed by these entities to report the E-waste management to the authorities. These reports must be filed in the portal in a prescribed manner within the month following these timelines.
• EPR for E-waste is mandatory for all the producers, manufacturers, recyclers, and re-furbishers who are into the sale, purchase, recycling, manufacture, refurbishing, and dismantling of the E-waste produced in the country.
• These entities dealing in E-waste need to pay the registration fee along with the annual maintenance fee to the CPCB as determined by them from time to time. Entities in the sale, purchase, recycling, manufacture, refurbishing, and dismantling industries have to pay such fees depending on the amount of e-waste they handle in that period.
• Schedule I lists the electronic items that require the EPR certification and registration on the portal, and these items have to comply with the targets set in Schedule III & IV.
• If any entity has registered under the E-waste (Management) Rules 2016, it needs to migrate from that to the new rules through a procedure set by the CPCB on the Steering Committee’s approval.

Conclusion

EPR for E-waste Producers is a much-needed certification to continue with the business in the country. Since the country has to look forward to meeting the goals of sustainable development, these steps are necessary to ensure the health and safety of the people, natural resources, and the environment. E-waste contains very hazardous substances and emits harmful radiation if not disposed of in a manner stated by the CPCB. This is why there are very heavy penalties for not complying with the terms mentioned in various governing rules and regulations by the ministry. With the country taking many steps towards reducing e-waste, it is now time that we also step up and use electronics in a better manner. We should not throw them away in our surroundings to help the cause.

Corpbiz can help your business entity dealing in this e-waste get its EPR certification approved in a hassle-free way. We have been known to provide these services to our customers for a very long period now, and customer satisfaction is at the top. All the documentation process would be done by our executives to get you the certification and compliance with regulations in time. We will assist you in filing the annual and Quarterly reports on time as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read Our Article: Need To Know About EPR Compliance For Manufacturers