E waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams across the globe and the need to have a separate regulation for E waste was felt. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has notified the E Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 on 12 May 2011, which shall come in to force from 1 May 2012. Copy of the Rules is available on Ministry of Environment and Forests website: www.envfor.nic.in. This was notified to the TBT Committee on 4 October 2010 with a 60 days comment period. The reduction in the use of hazardous substances (RoHS) shall be implemented w.e.f. 01.01.2014.
The concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR) has been enshrined in these Rules. As per these Rules, producers of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment listed in Schedule I, i.e. IT and telecommunication equipment and Consumer electrical and electronics (television sets, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioners), are required to finance, and organize a system to meet the costs involved in the environmentally sound management of e waste generated from the "end of life" of their own products and the historical waste available on the date from which these rules come in to force. Producers are also required to set up collection centres/ effective take back system for their 'end of life' electrical and electronic equipment.
The threshold limits prescribed in EU RoHS Directive, which is globally accepted standard for the hazardous substance used in manufacture of electrical and electronics components have been adopted.
