Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses concerns regarding GST fraud and unregistered vendors in the e-waste recycling sector. While the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has not received information about large-scale fraud, the Ministry revised the E-Waste Management Rules in 2022, effective since April 1, 2023, to improve e-waste management and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The rules aim to integrate the informal sector, promote a circular economy, and implement an online portal for registration and compliance.
Key Points / Main Content:
E-Waste Management Rules, 2022:
* Revised rules are in force since April 1, 2023, focusing on environmentally sound e-waste management.
* Improved EPR regime requires manufacturers, producers, refurbishers, and recyclers to register on the CPCB portal.
* Rules aim to channelize the informal sector into the formal sector, ensuring environmentally sound recycling.
* Provisions for environmental compensation and verification audits are introduced.
* Promotes Circular Economy through EPR and scientific recycling/disposal.
CPCB Initiatives:
* Developed an online E-Waste EPR portal for registration of relevant entities.
* Created guidelines for scientific and environmentally sound e-waste management.
* Implementing an action plan through SPCBs/PCCs, who submit quarterly progress reports.
* SPCBs/PCCs are to conduct regular checks on informal e-waste activities and facilitate formalization.
* Registered entities submit compliance through quarterly and annual returns on the portal.
* Environmental Compensation (EC) Guidelines have been developed for violations.
* Directions issued to SPCBs/PCCs for:
* Checking informal e-waste activities, verifying authorized dismantlers/recyclers.
* Ensuring registration on the Online E-Waste EPR Portal.
* Ensuring generation of EPR Certificates by e-waste recyclers for FY 2023-24.
MeitY Initiatives:
* Developing cost-effective technological solutions, skilling, and capacity building.
* Implemented a capacity-building program on e-waste management at NIELIT Sikkim, PU Chandigarh, and CMET Hyderabad.
* Developed standard course content on e-waste dismantling and segregation, recognized by NSQF.
* Established e-waste dismantling and segregation training centers.
* Initiated a project on Informal Sector Capacity Building Upgradation to create recycling clusters and promote resource efficiency.
Impact Analysis:
Manufacturers, Producers, Refurbishers, and Recyclers:
Impact: Required to register on the CPCB portal and comply with the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022, including EPR obligations. They may be subject to environmental compensation for violations.
Action Required: Register on the CPCB portal, comply with EPR, ensure environmentally sound e-waste management practices, and submit quarterly/annual returns.
State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs):
Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022 within their respective states/UTs.
Action Required: Implement the action plan, conduct regular checks on informal e-waste activities, submit quarterly progress reports, and enforce compliance with the rules.
Informal Sector Workers:
Impact: Opportunity for integration into the formal sector through training and capacity building initiatives.
Action Required: Participate in training programs offered by MeitY and other institutions to gain skills for formal employment in the e-waste recycling sector.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY):
Impact: Tasked with developing technological solutions, skilling programs, and initiatives to formalize the informal sector.
Action Required: Continue developing and implementing programs for capacity building, technology development, and integration of the informal sector into the formal e-waste management value chain.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies.
Goods and Services Tax: An indirect tax used in India on the supply of goods and services.
Extended Producer Responsibility Policy: A policy approach where producers are given a significant responsibility – financial and/or physical – for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products.
Central Pollution Control Board: A statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change responsible for pollution control.
EWaste Management Rules, 2016: The previous set of rules governing the management of electronic waste in India, which have since been revised.
EWaste Management Rules, 2022: The current set of rules in India governing the management of electronic waste.
State Pollution Control Boards: State-level organizations responsible for implementing environmental regulations and monitoring pollution within their respective states.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: A ministry in the Indian government responsible for electronics and information technology development and policy.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2361
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
False reporting of e-waste Recyclers
2361. SHRI RAKESH RATHOR:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of large-scale Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud,
fake invoices and unregistered vendors operating in e-waste recycling sector violating
tax laws and environmental norms, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is taking any concrete steps to bring these irregular operators
into the formal system, develop a transparent real-time tracking system, better
coordination between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and
GST authorities to prevent informal transportation and false reporting of e-waste , if so,
the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is planning to ease compliance by amending the Extended
Producer Responsibility Policy, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government is considering training and integrating informal sector workers
into the formal economy and setting up any institutional mechanism for resolving the
disputes between producers and recyclers and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) As per the information received from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),
they have not received any issue related to large-scale GST fraud, fake invoices and
unregistered vendors operating in e-waste recycling sector violating tax and environmental
norms.
Ministry has comprehensively revised the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and notified
the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 in November, 2022 and the same is in force since 1st
April, 2023. These new rules provide for managing e-waste in an environmentally sound
manner and putting in place an improved Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime for
e-waste recycling wherein all the manufacturer, producer, refurbisher and recycler are required
to register on portal developed by the CPCB. The new provisions facilitate and channelize the
informal sector to formal sector for doing business and ensuring recycling of e-waste in
environmentally sound manner. Provisions for environmental compensation and verification
& audit have also been introduced. These rules also promote Circular Economy through EPR
regime and scientific recycling/disposal of the e-waste. Further, CPCB has taken following
steps for effective management of E-Waste Rules as under:(i) An online E-Waste EPR portal has been developed by CPCB wherein entities such as
producers, manufacturers, recyclers and refurbishers of the e-waste are required to be
registered.
(ii) CPCB has developed guidelines for the scientific and environmentally sound
management of e-waste. The guidelines detail the procedures and facilities in terms of
machineries and pollution control devices required for the recycling of e-waste in
environmentally sound manner.
(iii) An action plan for implementation of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 is in place
and the same is being implemented by all the State Pollution Control Boards
(SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in their respective States/UTs.
SPCBs/PCCs are submitting quarterly progress report. The action plan makes it
incumbent upon SPCBs/PCCs to carry out regular drives for checking informal e-
waste activities and help them to formalise.
(iv) The registered entities submit their compliance through Quarterly and Annual Returns
on the E-waste Portal.
(v) Environmental Compensation (EC) Guidelines under E-Waste (Management) Rules,
2022 have been developed for levying EC on any entity in case of violation of any of
the provision of these rules and guidelines issued hereunder.
(vi) CPCB issued following Directions to SPCBs/PCCs for effective implementation of the
E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022:
a) Directions dated 06.09.2022 under Section 18 (1) (b) of the Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1981 regarding checking informal e-waste activities, verification of authorized
dismantlers/recyclers of E-Waste and drives for mass awareness.
b) Directions dated 30.01.2024 under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986 regarding registration of producers, manufacturers, recyclers and refurbishers
on the Online E-Waste EPR Portal.
c) Directions dated 14.02.2024 under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986 for ensuring generation of EPR Certificates by E-Waste recyclers towards
fulfilment of Producers EPR obligations for the FY 2023-24.
(d) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India
is involved in developing cost effective technological solutions, skilling, capacity building
etc. In order to formalization of informal sector by bringing them in materials supply chain
with indigenous technological solution, MeitY has taken few initiatives which are as under:
MeitY had implemented a programme on Capacity building through skill and
entrepreneurship development on e-Waste management at National Institute of
Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) Sikkim, Panjab University (PU)
Chandigarh and Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (CMET) Hyderabad.
Standard course content on e-waste dismantling, segregation has been developed to
provide training to the candidates of nearby states/UT i.e Haryana, Panjab, Chandigarh,
Andhra-Pradesh, all North Eastern Region etc. The developed course curriculum has
been recognized by National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF). More than 1500
candidates have been trained with hands-on-training under the project. An E-waste
dismantling and segregation training centre also has been set up at NIELIT Gangtok,
PU Chandigarh and CMET Hyderabad for continuous program in these states. A
learning management system also has been created for the beneficiaries. Handholding,
capacity building and entrepreneurship development by providing training with
Industry recognized skill-sets leading to better employability prospects are the main
objective of this program. To create a complete eco-system to upgrade informal sector into formal value chain a
project on “Informal Sector Capacity Building Upgradation with formation of recycling
clusters under MSME scheme and Enabling Technology for Recovery of Resources
from Electronic Waste thereby Promoting Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy”
has been initiated by MeitY.
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