The Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has proposed the draft Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Second Amendment Rules, 2024. These draft amendment rules seek to introduce the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for non-ferrous metals. This draft amendment notification was issued on August 14, 2024.
The draft new rules mandate that producers of non-ferrous metals get registered with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and fulfill their EPR obligations by ensuring the collection, recycling, or refurbishing of their products.
Key provisions of the rules include:
Registration
Manufacturers, producers, collection agents, refurbishers, and recyclers of non-ferrous metals must register with the CPCB. The Central Pollution Control Board may charge registration fees and annual maintenance charges from the entities seeking registration
EPR Certificates
The CPCB will generate EPR certificates for registered recyclers, acknowledging their contribution to recycling efforts. The validity of the extended producer responsibility certificate shall be two years from the end of the financial year in which it was generated and the expired certificate automatically extinguished after the period unless extinguished earlier as per these rules.
Refurbishing
Products made of non-ferrous metals can be refurbished, and refurbishers must also register with the CPCB. Refurbishing certificate shall be generated in favour of a registered refurbisher.
Online Portal
The CPCB will establish an online system for the registration and filing of quarterly and annual returns, extended producer responsibility certificate and tracing scrap of non-ferrous metals generated by any entity or person.
Bulk Consumers
Bulk consumers of non-ferrous metals must set up collection points and ensure that scrap is handed over only to registered entities.
The rules aim to promote responsible waste management and ensure that producers take accountability for the end-of-life of their products.
