What Are The Benefits Of EPR Services For Recycling E-Waste?

E-waste is rising day by day, and a well-organized strategy is required to overcome the e-waste challenge in the current times. While slogans like reduce, reuse, and recycle are popular, the sheer negligence of consumers and lack of e-waste disposal knowledge are vast. As per the sources, 1.6 to 1.75 million metric tons/year of e-waste are generated in India. Only 20-25% of waste is collected and disposed of. 

However, not all e-waste is recycled and treated properly, which further aggravates the situation. The disposed of recycled waste is then dumped in yards, rivers, etc., polluting land and water. India is adopting strong measures to combat such scenarios, and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) service is one of them. Let’s learn all about the benefits of EPR services for recycling e-waste here. 

Benefits Of EPR Services

EPR Service plays an important role in minimizing e-waste impact and helps to dispose of old, broken, unused electronic and IT gadgets. The benefits of EPR services are described in detail below.

Safe Disposal Of Hazardous Materials

EPR Program plays a crucial role in hazardous waste management. E-waste releases toxic chemicals like lead, nickel, cadmium, and chromium during disposal. Untreated waste poses a threat to not only the environment but also human health (respiratory problems, cancer, neurological disorders, etc). EPR programs help to reduce the problem by providing safe disposal of e-waste chemicals responsibly. 

Reduces Environmental Pollution

EPR service also takes care of disposing electronic gadgets, including their toxic compounds like cadmium, mercury, and lead. Otherwise, untreated toxic chemical compounds will pollute the environment. Authorized e-waste companies like GreenTek Reman have the latest recycling technologies to dispose of harmful chemicals under its expert team and minimize risk of environment pollution.

Reduces Health Hazard Impacts

Poor e-waste recycling methods create more problems than solutions. Such methods involve exposing workers to poisonous vapours and materials while extracting valuable materials from e-waste. However, with proper EPR solutions, the risk can be reduced. The authorized recyclers follow proper guidelines and have trained staff for such work. Thus, EPR service is a good way to reduce the impact of health hazards.

Conserving Valuable Natural Resources

Another major benefit of EPR is that it follows guidelines to recover valuable components from e-waste while treating the trash. The authorized EPR service follows a step-by-step process like collecting e-waste, treating it in a recycle zone, extracting valuable materials, and reusing them for other purposes. Thus, it contributes to circular economy by preserving natural resources.

What Is EPR Compliance For E-Waste?

To responsibly reduce e-waste, following EPR rules is mandatory. Otherwise, it will damage the environment beyond repair in coming years. The hazardous chemicals and fumes have an adverse effect on human health and pollute natural resources, air, water, and land very much. So, getting rid of them is extremely important. Some of the infamous e-waste zones known for such dumping include Seelampur in New Delhi and Deonar in Maharashtra.

EPR Compliance for E-Waste is the environmental and legal responsibility of producers, importers, and brands for the disposal at the end of life of their electronic equipment. It is a policy concept that makes sure that the producers are responsible for collecting, recycling, and disposing of e-waste in an environmentally friendly manner. 

It is a strategic approach to manage e-waste and use it in a circular economy instead. Under the EPR regulations, e-waste is treated to extract valuable components, redesign products using recyclable raw materials, and encourage the recycling and refurbishing of products.

What Is EPR Authorization In E-Waste Management?

EPR, or Extended Producer Responsibility, is a green strategy to minimize the environmental effects of product waste, particularly electronics. According to the EPR norms of India, the treatment and disposal of consumer products after the completion of their life cycle is the responsibility of manufacturers and importers of electronic goods only. In addition, in order to restrict the increasing amounts of e-waste, entrepreneurs, producers, and importers are mandated to register under EPR authorization. 

As per EPR e-waste compliance, manufacturers and importers are required to collect, process, and recycle a specific proportion of the manufactured electronic products in an eco-friendly way. Manufacturers must ensure that all electronic products are RoHS-compliant before their release date. 

Manufacturers can only deal with recognized recyclers and PROs (Producer Responsibility Organisations) to address and handle e-waste. · Producers are required to label electronic products correctly and give information about the treatment of end-of-life products. EPR compliance for e-waste makes it mandatory for manufacturers, business owners, and importers to hold and dispose of products that have come to their end of lifecycle in approved collection centers.

EPR Authorization For E-Waste Process

The procedure for obtaining (extended producer responsibility) EPR authorization is as follows:

Step 1: The manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment have to file a Form-1 application with the Central Pollution Control Board within 90 days to obtain EPR authorization.

Step 2: Upon receiving a complete application, the Central Pollution Control Board will scrutinize the EPR Plan and issue EPR Authorization in Form 1(aa) within 120 days if the producer has described a proper system to address EPR, or Extended Producer Responsibility.

Step 3: Determine the quantity of e-waste material to be collected under each product code in a given year. The specific target for e-waste collection for dismantling or recycling purposes will be decided accordingly.

Step 4: The producer will estimate the amount of e-waste generated in the current year and propose a collection mechanism for the EPR plan. The Central Pollution Control Board will set objectives as per Schedule III of the E-waste Management Rules.

Step 5: After giving an applicant a reasonable opportunity to be heard, the Central Pollution Control Board will reject or grant EPR authorization.

Step 6: If the Central Pollution Control Board rejects EPR Authorization, the manufacturer is deprived of selling any Electrical and Electronic Equipment until the authorization is approved.

Step 7: Once EPR Authorization is approved, the Central Pollution Control Board shall forward the Extended Producer Responsibility Plan to the concerned State Pollution Control Board for monitoring.

Are E-Waste Recycling Programs Effective With EPR Implementation? 

Efficiency in e-waste recycling programs is important to the sustainability of our environment. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has shifted the responsibility for electronic product disposal and recycling to the producers. The strategy has proved effective in enhancing recycling rates, decreasing the quantity of e-waste disposed of in landfills, and limiting the environmental risk from toxic elements in electronic products.

E-waste recycling schemes are more effective when they have Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes incorporated. EPR implementation has been proven to result in increased collection rates of electronic waste, keeping more materials out of landfills and away from unsafe export. Through EPR, there is a considerable decrease in the negative impact on the environment brought about by the unsound disposal of electronic waste, leading to a more environmentally friendly waste management system.

GreenTek Reman EPR Service Overview

Cooperating with approved PROs such as GreenTek Reman makes it possible for a business organization or waste treatment unit to adhere to the compulsory EPR authorization requirements. GreenTek Reman is among the top Producer Responsibility Organisations in India. The organisation is approved to collect, direct, and recycle e-waste in an environmentally appropriate manner. 

GreenTek Reman is also committed to promoting EPR awareness and preventing businesses from contravening e-waste management regulations suggested by the CPCB. The EPR Registration Online for E-waste Management ensures the safe treatment of e-waste as per the laws and regulations laid down in the rules. EPR Authorisation is a waste management term that encompasses electronic rubbish (e-waste). 

Conclusion

Consequently, all firms have to file quarterly reports with detailed information for the management and disposal of electronics post-obsolescence in order to remain compliant. It comes as no surprise that EPR compliance with e-waste demonstrates a cradle-to-cradle strategy involving the collection and channeling of end-of-life electronic products.