The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued a notification requiring recyclers to generate Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Certificate through EPR Portal. This notification was issued on 15th June, 2023.
It may be recalled that MoEFCC had notified the E-Wastes (Management) Rules, 2022 on 2nd November, 2022. These rules aim to regulate the management and disposal of electronic wastes effectively. A significant provision introduced under these rules is the requirement for recyclers to generate EPR Certificates through the EPR Portal.
Therefore the present notification reiterates that recyclers who handle electronic waste are now mandated to maintain records of sales and purchases of different recovered materials and e-waste through invoices linked to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system. These records are essential for generating the EPR Certificate on the EPR Portal. In order to comply with this requirement, recyclers must adopt e-invoices through the GST Portal for the sale and purchase of various recovered materials and e-waste.
These new provisions also have implications for producers. Producers are now obligated to accept sales invoices linked to GST from e-waste recyclers as proof of recycling for the end products. This step ensures traceability and accountability throughout the recycling process, promoting transparency and responsible management of electronic waste.
