E-Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011 were notified in 2011 and had come into effect since May, 2012. According to these Rules, the consumer now has the legal responsibility to dispose of the waste electrical and electronic equipment (popularly known as “WEEE”) in the prescribed manner and not by just throwing it into a dustbin or giving/selling it to kabadi/ scrap dealer. This will control environmental pollution.

As per the new guidelines, MoEF& CC, Government of India in supersession of E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 has notified the E-Waste(Management) Rules, 2016 vide G.S.R. 338(E) dated 23.03.2016 which has now been effective from 1st October’2017. These rules are applicable to every producer, consumer or bulk consumer, collection centre, dismantler and recycler of e-waste involved in the manufacture, sale, purchase and processing of electrical and electronic equipment or components specified in Schedule – I of the Rules.

Recycling of Electronic products is one of the best ways to help contribute to sustainable development, and demonstrate that they are committed to being socially responsible. Recycling ensures that all the valuable and scarce raw materials used in electronic equipment get re-used in the manufacturing of new products. In this way, the plastics, metals, glass etc. which are recovered get a second life and we, as consumers and citizens, reap the benefit of using and conserving our finite natural resources. Recycling helps keep the price of raw materials down, which in turn, lowers the costs of the final product, making it cheaper for all consumers to purchase goods.