The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on 14th October 2024 issued draft guidelines aimed at determining the capacity of e-waste recycling facilities. The guidelines outline several important factors that must be considered when determining the capacity of e-waste recycling facilities:
1. Installed Machinery Capacity: The capacity should be based on the installed machines’ capacity, measured in tonnes per hour or batch capacity.
2. Storage Requirements: Facilities must have adequate storage areas for e-waste, products of recycling, hazardous materials, and non-recyclable materials. These storage areas should comply with safety, health, and environmental safeguards.
3. Operational Hours and Shifts: The number of shifts and operational hours will also play a role in determining the facility’s capacity.
4. Segregation of Facilities: It is essential that recycling and refurbishing facilities are distinct, with permanent demarcation and separate entries.
5. Dismantling Facilities: No independent dismantling facilities will be granted a Consent to Operate (CTO). Instead, dismantling must be integrated into the recycling facility to ensure proper material flow.
The guidelines also specify how capacity should be determined based on the source of feed for recycling:
– If the only feed is from manual dismantling, the capacity will be limited to the manual dismantling capacity, regardless of the subsequent machines’ capacity.
– If the feed comes solely from mechanical processes, the capacity will be governed by the feeding machines’ capacity.
– In cases where both manual dismantling and mechanical processes are used, the cumulative feed capacity will be considered.
The CPCB’s draft guidelines for e-waste recycling facilities are designed to ensure that these facilities operate efficiently and safely while adhering to environmental regulations. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide their feedback to help refine these guidelines, which are crucial for effective e-waste management in India. The stakeholders are invited to review and comment on by October 20, 2024.For comments, stakeholders can reach out via email at wm3.cpcb@gov.in and anand.cpcb@nic.in.
