India's E-Waste Rules

How India's E-Waste (Management) Rules, updated in 2022, make producers responsible for collecting and recycling through EPR targets and a certificate system.

India regulates e-waste through E-Waste (Management) Rules.

History

First rules in 2011, updated in 2016 and 2022.

EPR

Producers, importers and brand owners must meet collection and recycling targets based on what they sell.
The 2022 rules introduced an EPR certificate system: registered recyclers generate certificates that producers buy.

Covered items

Over a hundred categories, including phones, laptops, TVs, appliances and, from 2023, solar panels in some ways.

Minimum price

In 2024-25, rules set a floor price for EPR certificates to ensure recyclers are paid enough, which some producers challenged in court.

Challenges

Most e-waste still flows to the informal sector.
Verification of recycling.
Consumer awareness.

Economic logic

EPR makes producers internalise disposal costs, encouraging better design.

The certificate

A phone brand buys EPR certificates from a registered recycler for tonnes of old phones processed, meeting its legal target.

Thinking consumers alone are responsible for e-waste

EPR makes producers responsible too.

Key takeaways

India's e-waste rules began in 2011, updated in 2022.
Producers must meet EPR collection targets.
Recyclers generate certificates producers buy.
Most e-waste still goes to informal recyclers.