The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has released the Environmental Compensation (EC) Guidelines under the Hazardous and Other Waste (Management & Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2022, specifically for the Waste Tyre Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime. These guidelines were published on September 3, 2024.
These guidelines, developed through extensive consultations with producer and recycler associations, aim to address the environmental impact of waste tyres and ensure that producers take responsibility for their end-of-life management.
The EC Guidelines were presented to the 3rd Steering Committee meeting on August 8, 2024, and subsequently approved by the committee. They were then submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for final approval, which was granted on September 2, 2024.
Applicability
The guidelines will be applicable to entities involved in manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, recycling and retreading of Waste Tyre or Tyre as defined in the Hazardous and Other Waste (Management & Transboundary Movement) Amendments Rules, 2022.
Approach for Assessment of Environment Compensation (EC)
I. EC Regime 1
In this regime, an environmental compensation fee will be levied on producers who fail to meet their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations. This includes ensuring the collection, recycling, or recovery of a specified percentage of waste tyres.
II. EC Regime 2
Under this regime, an environmental compensation fee will be levied on any entity that violates the Hazardous and Other Waste (M&TM) Amendments Rules, 2022, or its subsequent amendments. This includes non-compliance with regulations related to waste tyre management, transportation, storage, and disposal.
The implementation of the EC Guidelines is expected to promote sustainable waste management practices and reduce the environmental burden associated with waste tires. By holding producers accountable for the end-of-life management of their products, the guidelines aim to create a more circular economy for tires.
