- The producer of electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I shall be responsible for -

(1)

implementing the Extended Producers Responsibility with the following frameworks, namely:-

(a) collection and channelisation of e-waste generated from the 'end-of-life' of their products or 'end-of-life' products with same electrical and electronic equipment code and historical waste available on the date from which these rules come into force as per Schedule I in line with the targets prescribed in Schedule III in Extended Producer Responsibility - Authorisation;

(b) the mechanism used for channelisation of e-waste from 'end-of-life' products including those from their service centres to authorised dismantler or recycler shall be in accordance with the Extended Producer Responsibility - Authorisation. In cases of fluorescent and other mercury containing lamps, where recyclers are not available, channelisation may be from collection centre to Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility;

(c) for disposal in Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility, a pre-treatment is necessary to immobilise the mercury and reduce the volume of waste to be disposed off;

(d) Extended Producer Responsibility - Authorisation should comprise of general scheme for collection of waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment from the Electrical and Electronic Equipment placed on the market earlier, such as through dealer, collection centres, Producer Responsibility Organisation, through buy-back arrangement, exchange scheme, Deposit Refund System, etc. whether directly or through any authorised agency and channelising the items so collected to authorised recyclers;

(e) providing contact details such as address, e-mail address, toll-free telephone numbers or helpline numbers to consumer(s) or bulk consumer(s) through their website and product user documentation so as to facilitate return of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment;

(f) creating awareness through media, publications, advertisements, posters, or by any other means of communication and product user documentation accompanying the equipment, with regard to -

(g) the producer shall opt to implement Extended Producer Responsibility individually or collectively. In individual producer responsibility, producer may set up his own collection centre or implement take back system or both to meet Extended Producer Responsibility. In collective system, producers may tie-up as a member with a Producer Responsibility Organisation or with e-waste exchange or both. It shall be mandatory upon on the individual producer in every case to seek Extended Producer Responsibility - Authorisation from Central Pollution Control Board in accordance with the Form-1 and the procedure laid down in sub-rule (1) of rule 13;

(2)

to provide information on the implementation of Deposit Refund Scheme to ensure collection of end-of-life products and their channelisation to authorised dismantlers or recyclers, if such scheme is included in the Extended Producer Responsibility Plan.

Provided that the producer shall refund the deposit amount that has been taken from the consumer or bulk consumer at the time of sale, along with interest at the prevalent rate for the period of the deposit at the time of take back of the end-of-life product;

(3)

the import of electrical and electronic equipment shall be allowed only to producers having Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation;

(4)

maintaining records in Form-2 of the e-waste handled and make such records available for scrutiny by the Central Pollution Control Board or the concerned State Pollution Control Board;

(5)

filing annual returns in Form-3, to the Central Pollution Control Board on or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates. In case of the Producer with multiple offices in a State, one annual return combining information from all the offices shall be filed;

(6)

the Producer shall apply to the Central Pollution Control Board for authorisation in Form 1, which shall thereafter grant the Extended Producer Responsibility - Authorisation in Form 1(aa).

(7)

Operation without Extended Producer Responsibility-Authorisation by any producer, as defined in this rule, shall be considered as causing damage to the environment.