MAPUSA
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has issued a directive requiring all manufacturers, producers, re-furbishers, dismantlers and recyclers of electrical and electronic equipment and their components or consumables to register on the national online Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) E-waste portal by March 31.
In accordance with the provisions outlined in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's (MoEF&CC) E-waste (Management) Rules of 2022, entities involved in these activities are obligated to register on the portal.
“Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the inability to conduct business,” said Shamila Monteiro, Member Secretary of GSPCB.
The notice emphasised that non-compliance with the rules will prompt the Board to take further action in accordance with the stipulated regulations.
The EPR E-waste portal, accessible at https://eprewastecpcb.in/ serves as a centralised platform for the registration and management of electronic waste handlers in line with environmental regulations.
The rules, under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, apply to every entity engaged in the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, refurbishing, dismantling, recycling and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I, including their components, consumables, parts, and spares. However, waste batteries, packaging plastics micro-enterprises and radioactive wastes are exempt from these regulations.
Entities are required to register on the portal under one of the following categories: manufacturer, producer, refurbisher or recycler.
Any entity found furnishing false information or wilfully concealing information for registration may face revocation of registration by the Central Pollution Control Board for a period of up to three years.
Additionally, environmental compensation charges may be levied as per rule 22 in such cases.
The Central Pollution Control Board may impose registration fees and annual maintenance charges based on the capacity of e-waste generated or handled by the entities seeking registration.
Furthermore, every manufacturer, producer, refurbisher and recycler is allowed to store e-waste for a maximum period of 180 days and is required to maintain records of sale, transfer, and storage of e-wastes.
This directive comes as part of the State's efforts to regulate and manage electronic waste effectively, aligning with national objectives for sustainable waste management and environmental protection.
