Module 2

Overview
• Regulatory Framework: Global E-Waste Regulations
• WEEE Directive
• International Norms- Basel convention
• Evolution of E-Waste Regulation in India
• E-Waste Management Rules 2016(amendments to 2011 Rules)
• Regulatory Compliance Mechanisms
• E-Waste Management Guidelines
 Government Regulations on E-Waste
Management in China and USA
US Policy and Law
• Environment Protection Agency (EPA) initiated a green
National Electronics Action Plan (NEAP) in 2005 in order to
address environmental concerns arising out of the entire life
cycle of electronics, including design, operation, reuse,
recycling and disposal of equipment.

• NEAP focuses mainly on computers, televisions and cell

phones.
 US Policy and Law (Contd…)
• EPA places responsibility for products on a broader group of
entities, including manufacturers, retailers, users and disposers.

• The US is involved in a number of initiatives and programmes

aimed at reducing e-waste.

– For instance, the US, Canada and Mexico are the members of the
North American Pollution Prevention Partnership, which focuses on
clean electronics in North America.
 US Policy and Law (Contd…)
• California has promulgated (spread/circulated) the Electronic Waste Recycling
Act of 2003, which is considered landmark legislation for e-waste regulation and
management.

• Electronic waste in California can neither be disposed of in a landfill nor be

exported overseas.

• Unlike the EU regulations, the Californian law establishes the system of shifting
the financial burden of recycling of e-waste on the consumer.

• The most significant provision of the regulation is the electronic waste recycling
fee, which is to be collected at the point of sale of certain products
 US Policy and Law (Contd…)
• A law in the state of Washinghton which took effect in
January, 2009 requires manufacturers of electronic goods to pay
for recycling, and establishing a statewide network of collection
points.

• The program, called E-Cycle Washington, is managed by the

Washington State Department of Ecology and the
Washington Materials Management & Financing Authority
(WMMFA).
 Legislation in China
• Electronic waste in China has gained world-wide attention as a
serious environmental issue.

• Guiyu in Guangdong Province is the location of the largest

electronic waste site on earth.

• Chinese laws are primarily concerned with eliminating the import

of e-waste.

• China has ratified (approved) the Basel Convention as well as the

Basel Ban Amendment, officially banning the import of e-waste.
 Legislation in China (Contd..)
• The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in China,
officially known as the ‘Administrative Measure on the
Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information
Products’ is a Chinese Government regulation to control
certain materials, including lead.

• It was jointly promulgated (spread/circulated) by the seven

Government Departments and administrations of the People’s
Republic of China (PRC) in February, 2006 and became
effective from 1 March, 2007.
 Legislation in China (Contd..)
• According to Article 1 of the Administrative Measure, it was
formulated on the basis of the legal and administrative laws of the
‘Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promotion of Clean
Protection’.

• ‘Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and

Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste’, etc., in order
to control and reduce environmental pollution caused by the
discarded electronic information products, promote manufacture
and sale of low pollution electronic information products, and
protect environment and human health
 Legislation in China (Contd..)
• All items shipped to China now have to be marked as to
whether the items contained in the box are compliant or
noncompliant.

• The Electronic Information Products (EIP) logo or other

label is used to mark parts and assemblies that do not contain
acceptable amounts of substances identified by the regulations,
and those that are environmentally safe.
 Legislation in China (Contd..)
• Units which contain hazardous substances are marked with the EIP logo
including an Environment Friendly Use Period (EFUP) value in years.

• EFUP is the period of time before any of the RoHS direction’s restricted
substances are likely to leak out, causing possible harm to health and
the environment.

• There are currently six substances considered environmentally hazardous

by the Chinese RoHS Directive namely lead, mercury, cadmium,
hexavalent chromium, poly-brominated biphenyls, polybrominated
diphenyl ethers and other toxic or hazardous substances or elements set by
the state.
 Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE Directive)
• Purpose
– To prevent or reduce the adverse impacts of waste electrical and
electronic equipment (WEEE) on human health and the environment.
– To promote resource efficiency and recovery through reuse, recycling,
and other forms of recovery.
• Scope
– Covers electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) such as household
appliances, IT and telecom equipment, consumer electronics, lighting,
tools, toys, medical devices, and monitoring instruments.
– Includes both household and professional equipment.
Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE Directive) :
Key Provisions
• Producer Responsibility: Manufacturers/importers are responsible
for financing the collection, treatment, recovery, and
environmentally sound disposal of WEEE.
• Collection Systems: Member States must ensure convenient
collection points are available for consumers (e.g., shops,
collection centers).
• Collection Targets:
– By 2016: 45% of average EEE placed on the market in the preceding 3
years.
– By 2019: 65% of average EEE placed on the market or 85% of WEEE
generated.
Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE Directive) :
Key Provisions (Contd..)
• Treatment & Recovery Targets: Sets minimum recovery and
recycling rates depending on product categories.
• Information & Marking:
– Products must be marked with the crossed-out wheeled bin
symbol.
– Producers must provide information on safe collection and
treatment.
• Registration & Reporting: Producers must register with
national registers and report amounts of EEE placed on the
market and WEEE collected/recycled.
Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE Directive) :
Implementation and Benefits
• Implementation
– Each EU Member State is responsible for transposing the Directive
into national law and setting up collection/treatment systems.
• Environmental and Economic Benefits
– Encourages circular economy principles by recovering valuable
raw materials.
– Reduces landfill waste and pollution from hazardous substances in
electronics.
– Promotes eco-design and sustainable product development.
 The Basel Convention
• Initial Initiative: It was one of the first international treaties to
address e-waste and its transboundary movement.
• Preventing Harm: Its core purpose is to prevent the adverse
impact of hazardous waste on the environment and human
health.
• UNEP Initiative: The convention was initiated by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
 The Besel Convention : Purpose and Key
Milestones
• Signed: By 173 countries on 22 March 1989.
• Entered into Force: On 5 May 1992.
• Core Goal: To prevent the economically motivated dumping of
hazardous waste from richer to poorer countries.
• Result: Led to a tightening of environmental regulations and an
increase in the cost of hazardous waste disposal in
industrialized countries.
 The Basel Convention and E-Waste
• Initial Omission: Initially, the convention did not explicitly focus on
e-waste, even though it had rules for the recycling of hazardous wastes.
• Primary Focus: The issue of e-waste was brought into primary focus at the
e-World Forum held in Nairobi in November 2006.
• Four Aims for E-Waste: The convention now addresses e-waste with four
specific goals:
1. Prevention: Reducing e-waste generation at the source.
2. Reduction: Ensuring the environmentally sound management (ESM) of e-waste.
3. Resource Recovery: Promoting the "proximity principle" (disposing of waste as
close to its source as possible) and recovering valuable materials.
4. Final Disposal: Regulating and monitoring the remaining transboundary
movements of hazardous e-waste.
The Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure
• Mandatory Permission: Any country exporting hazardous waste must
obtain the prior written consent of the importing and transit
countries.
• The Process: Under Article 6, exporters must notify the destination
and intermediary countries of their intent to ship hazardous waste.
• Legal Protection: This system creates a legal and regulatory
mechanism to avoid ecological disasters and protect public health.
• Proof of Consent: A shipment can only proceed after written consent
is received and a contract is confirmed between the exporter and the
disposer, specifying Environmentally Sound Management (ESM).
 Evolution of E-Waste Regulations in India
Pre-Regulation Phase (Before 2010)
• India did not have specific rules on e-waste.
• E-waste was managed under the **Hazardous Waste
(Management & Handling) Rules, 1989** (amended in 2000).
• The focus was on controlling import/export of hazardous waste
rather than domestic e-waste management.
* Most recycling was informal, causing environmental and health
hazards.
 Evolution of E-Waste Regulations in India
First E-Waste Rules (2011)
• E-Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011 (notified by
MoEFCC, effective from May 2012).
Key Features:
• First dedicated framework for e-waste in India.
• Introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)→ producers
responsible for take-back and disposal.
• Collection centres, dismantlers, and recyclers had to be authorized.
• Covered 10 categories of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE),
similar to EU WEEE Directive.
 Evolution of E-Waste Regulations in India
Strengthening Regulations (2016)
E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 replaced 2011 rules.
Key Features:
• Broader scope: covered 21 categories of EEE.
• Made EPR authorization mandatory from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• Collection targets for producers (starting at 30% of sales, increasing over time).
• Producers allowed to set up collection centres or implement buy-back /
deposit-refund schemes.
• Introduced concept of Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs).
 Evolution of E-Waste Regulations in India
Amendment (2018)
• E-Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2018.
Key Changes:
• Relaxed collection targets (10% for 2017–18, rising gradually).
• Introduced a more phased, achievable target system.
• Strengthened role of PROs and recyclers.
 Evolution of E-Waste Regulations in India
Latest Update (2022 – in force from April 2023)
• E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022** replaced 2016 rules.
Key Features:
• Applies to producers, manufacturers, refurbishers, recyclers.
• Digital, centralized EPR portal for registration, reporting, and tracking compliance.
• Trading of EPR certificates: recyclers generate certificates; producers purchase them
to meet obligations.
• Banned unregistered refurbishers/recyclers.
• E-waste collection targets:
– 60% of quantity generated by 2023–24,
– 70% by 2024–25,
– 80% from 2025–26 onwards.
• Emphasis on circular economy, recovery of rare earths and precious metals.
 Summary Timeline
• 1989–2000 → Hazardous Waste Rules cover e-waste generally.
• 2011→ First specific **E-Waste Rules** (EPR introduced).
• 2016→ Expanded categories, mandatory EPR authorization, collection
targets.
• 2018 → Relaxed targets, phased implementation.
• 2022 → Comprehensive new rules with EPR portal, trading system,
stricter compliance, and higher recovery targets.
 E-Waste Management Guidelines (CPCB
Guidelines)
• Purpose: Ensure safe, scientific, and environmentally sound
management of e-waste.
– Secure collection & storage; no mixing with municipal waste; max storage 180
days.
– Transportation: authorized transporters; proper labelling and documentation.
– Dismantling: safe disassembly; remove hazardous parts; no open burning or acid
leaching.
– Recycling: approved technologies; safe handling of hazardous fractions; EPR
certificate generation.
– EPR Responsibilities: registration, targets, PRO engagement, annual returns.
– Record keeping & reporting: manifests, monthly/annual returns.
– Safety: PPE, trained staff, fire/emergency systems, no child labour.
 Key Responsibilities Under CPCB
Guidelines
• Producers: EPR targets, collection network, reporting.
– PROs / Collection Centres: storage, channelization, documentation.
– Dismantlers: safe manual dismantling, segregation, records.
– Recyclers: approved technologies, EPR certificates.
– Transporters: safe transport with proper labelling.
– Bulk Consumers: safe storage, authorized disposal.
 Compliance Documents Required
• EPR Authorization certificate.
– Annual return forms for SPCB/CPCB.
– E-waste Manifest (Form 6).
– Collection and recycling records.
– Hazardous waste handling authorization (if applicable).
– RoHS compliance documentation (DoC, test reports).