Recycling and E-waste

According to a survey, 50 million tonnes of E-waste is generated globally every year and out of which only 20% of it is recycled. INDIA itself generates 2 million metric tonnes of e-waste annually and a very nominal percentage of it is recycled through proper channels. In order to deal with the serious effect of e-waste on environment and human health, the INDIAN Government came with E-waste Management Rules in the year 2016 and the major objective of this was to ensure environmentally sound management of e-waste.

These rule is applicable to every manufacturer, producer, consumer, bulk consumer, collection centres, dealers, e-retailer, refurbished, dismantler and recycler involved in manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, collection, storage and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment falling under the rule including their components, consumables, parts, and spares. An amendment to this rule was wade in the year 2018.

Extended Producer Responsibility

EPR is an add-on responsibility on every importer, producer, manufacturer, etc. to implement a reverse supply chain to get e-waste back from the market to meet the collection target provided by CPCB which is some percentage of the waste is generated by the sales are done in the past. The extended responsibility also includes proper channelization of e-waste individually which may include implementing the take-back system, setting up collection centres, ensuring proper recycling and creating awareness among consumers, etc.

Producer Responsibility Organization

PRO (Producer Responsibility Organization) is a legal authorized body by CPCB who can assists a producer or producers for specific of multiple tasks relating to proper management of their EPR. A PRO can share its resources with the producers and hence managing EPR compliance by involving/engaging a PRO results in reducing cost involved in multiple activities as mentioned below:

Sharing of collection centre : A collection centre of PRO can be shared by multiple producers hence resulting in limited use of infrastructure.

Running Awareness Campaign : Awareness programme being organized by the PRO covers a general audience for all the category of e-waste which in hand results in covering all the engaged importers.

Transportation and Recycling : A PRO helps in choosing a proper transportation facility for environmentally sound management of e-waste and a proper recycler to ensure proper the proper disposal.

vincular as pro

To enable the organizations having the products listed in schedule I, to do business in India, Vincular supports with the below activities for the grant of EPR authorization from CPCB

Analysing the product categories and sales data and assess the applicable collection targets

Preparation of EPR plan

  • General scheme of collection
  • Channelization of E-waste
  • Website information
  • Estimated budget for various activities/mechanisms
  • Awareness programs

Preparation and submission of complete application package

Handling queries and follow up with CPCB for grant of authorization

Following the grant of EPR authorization by CPCB, the recipients are required to comply with and fulfill responsibilities for continual maintenance of authorization during its validity period. Vincular will guide and support the EPR holders fulfill all such obligations in a structured and timely manner, ensuring continued compliance with the regulation.

Planning And Running Awareness Campaigns

Planning awareness campaigns based on product category, end consumer type and brands CSR initiative

Engagement with NGO’s / Marketing agencies / Industry associations for creating
awareness among end consumers through various channels and approaches like:

  • Seminars
  • Exhibitions
  • RWA Meetings
  • Educational Institutions
  • Industry Associations
  • Social Media
  • Digital Media

Executing awareness campaigns on ground

 

Vincular supports and provisions end to end channelization of E-waste, right from capturing the collection request from end user to dismantling / recycling of e-waste while complying with all requirements of the E-waste management rules 2016 on behalf of producers (EPR holders)

  • Framework for capturing the collection request
  • Provisioning trained manpower for handling e-waste collection request and queries over toll free number and email ids
  • Provisioning toll free number
  • Provisioning email ids where the request are sent and managed
  • Provisioning collection points / collection centre / Warehouse for physical collection of e-waste to cover all 29 states

Reverse Logistics : Transportation facilities for environmentally safe and sound movement of e-waste to Dismantling / Recycling facilities

Recycling/Dismantling Facilities : Provisioning Dismantling and Recycling facilities as per CPCB requirements

Vincular will support the EPR holders fulfill their yearly collection targets through e-waste collection from end user as well as engage with scrap dealers and system integrators/used equipment dealers to fulfill the collection targets given by CPCB.

EPR holders are obliged to file collection and recycling data against the given targets every quarter and annually. Vincular will support in fulfilling the requirement of statutory filings for continued maintenance of authorization.

  • Quarterly and Annual filing with CPCB
  • Self-assessment of collection targets on basis of sales/import data and submission with CPCB
  • Handling queries from SPCB on EPR compliance

Compliance audits helps with comprehensive review of organizations adherence to CPCB regulatory guidelines and risk assessment for continuation of EPR authorization. Vincular can undertake such audit to evaluate compliance and level of preparation for departmental audit by CPCB/SPCB.

  • ROHS compliance verification
  • Adequacy of E-waste awareness initiatives taken
  • Availability of statutory records at collection points/centre and at registered office
  • Availability of trained staff at collection points/centre to handle e-waste collection and management (in case managed by the EPR holder)
  • Adequate arrangements for recycling/dismantling against assigned collection targets