gates to the end-of-life management of their products when discarded by the end user.
Extended Producers’ Responsibility concept was first time formally introduced in the European Union at the time of implementing WEEE Directive (i.e. Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment Directive) in July, 2006 to regulate movement of end of life EEE. Under the concept, producers / importers are responsible to take back their products from the consumer either at the end of life of the respective products or as and when the user wants to discard for disposal.
To discharge obligation of take back and to meet expenses relating to logistic, recycling & disposal of hazardous substances the directive also provided for Advance Recycling Fee (ARF), which producers are eligible to collect from the customers at the time of sale. The ARF so collected remain earmarked to meet above obligations on the part of the producers / importers and after collection either on their own or taking help of third party logistic, the end of life equipment are sent to the certified recyclers for environment friendly disposal as per the norms set under the above directive.
As per E-waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2016, manufacturers of electronic goods are responsible for setting up a call centre to facilitate end user to get in touch with the producers to return back their products at the end of life, set up collection centre or a take-back points either individually or jointly out of their funds to channelize e-waste from end user to Recycler(s). Manufacturers are also responsible for the disposal of their own waste generated during manufacturing process in line with the principle of ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’. The regulation aims to ensure that e-waste is channelized under above system reaches to the registered dismantlers and recyclers.
The regulation applies to electronic and electrical equipment, along with their consumables and components that are part of or included in the electronic product at the time of discarding. Some of the electronics and electrical products which come under the purview of the e-waste rules include mobile phones, computers, laptops, television sets, ACs and other home appliances.
