The E‑Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 require every e‑waste recycler to register on CPCB’s centralized portal and operate only with valid authorization and consent from the State Pollution Control Board. The rules, updated through 2023–2024 amendments, also established audited, portal‑linked EPR certificate generation that producers use to meet targets, with CPCB setting price bands for certificate trading to ensure transparency. Recyclers cannot operate outside the portal regime, and their outputs and sales underpin the issuance of EPR certificates that settle producer obligations.
EPR certificates are generated only after verified recycling, not mere collection or storage. CPCB guidelines on electronic trading and settlement platforms clarify that certificates are generated and transferred on the portal while price discovery occurs on approved trading platforms without brokers, and only registered obligated entities and recyclers may trade. The Third Amendment empowers CPCB to set highest and lowest exchange prices, and expired certificates cannot be traded. Recyclers must maintain mass‑balance records, linking inbound e‑waste weights to recovered material weights and sale invoices, which are subject to environmental audits and potential invalidation if discrepancies arise.
Annual compliance requires quarterly and annual returns, typically culminating by June 30 for the preceding year, declaring input quantities received, fractions processed, materials recovered, and certificates issued. Recyclers must ensure traceability of each lot, keep calibration records of weighing equipment, and ensure transportation manifests match portal entries. Environmental compensation can apply for misreporting or failure to meet environmental safeguards, alongside suspension from the portal. Recyclers should also maintain customer KYC and CPCB registration proof for all counterparties to ensure every certificate is backed by authorized transactions.
