India’s e-waste law changed in a big way with the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. They were notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in November 2022 and came into force on 1 April 2023, replacing the 2016 rules.
If your company is in Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bharuch or anywhere else in Gujarat, here is what you need to know, in plain language.
This article is a simple overview, not legal advice. Always check the latest official text and notifications from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB).
Who do the rules apply to?
The rules cover everyone involved in the life of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE):
- Manufacturers and producers (including importers and brand owners)
- Refurbishers
- Recyclers
- Consumers and bulk consumers (large users such as companies, government offices, hospitals and educational institutions)
The list of covered equipment is long. It includes IT and telecom equipment, consumer electronics, large and small household appliances, electrical and electronic tools, medical devices, lab instruments, and solar photovoltaic panels.
The big change: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
EPR means the company that puts a product on the market is responsible for it at end of life too.
Under the 2022 rules, producers must meet yearly recycling targets. They do this by buying EPR certificates generated by registered recyclers when they actually recycle e-waste. The targets start at 60% for the first years and increase over time, reaching 80% in later years.
This system creates a clear, trackable link between the products sold and the e-waste recycled.
Registration on the CPCB portal
Manufacturers, producers, refurbishers and recyclers must register on the CPCB’s online EPR portal. Unregistered entities are not supposed to deal in e-waste, and companies should not trade with them.
What bulk consumers in Gujarat should do
If you are a factory, IT company, hospital, bank or institution, you are likely a bulk consumer. Your key duties are simple:
- Hand over e-waste only to proper channels: a registered producer, refurbisher or recycler.
- Do not give e-waste to informal dealers who dismantle or burn it without controls.
- Keep records of what you disposed of, when, and to whom.
- Store e-waste safely until it is collected, away from rain and fire risk.
Penalties
The rules allow environmental compensation to be charged for violations, such as dealing with unregistered entities or giving false information. Beyond penalties, bad disposal can hurt your company’s reputation and ESG reporting.
How Alchemy Recyclers can help
We are an e-waste recycling and precious metal recovery company based in Manjusar, Savli, Vadodara. We help Gujarat businesses turn their e-waste into recovered metal instead of pollution. See our e-waste recycling service or contact us to discuss your material and the documents you need.
