EPR REGISTRATION FOR E-WASTE MANAGEMENT
[ Table Of Content ]
- Introduction to EPR & E-Waste Management
- Overview of E-Waste Management Rules 2022
- EPR Registration for Manufacturers & Importers
- Products Covered Under Electronic EPR
- EPR Registration Process & Required Documents
- Fees, Timeline, Validity & Exemptions
- Responsibilities, Recycling Targets & Compliance
- Post-Compliance Requirements & Role of CPCB
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
INTRODUCTION TO EPR & E-WASTE MANAGEMENT
Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to discarded electrical and electronic products such as mobile phones, laptops, televisions, refrigerators, and other devices that have reached the end of their useful life. E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams and contains hazardous substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can harm human health and the environment if not managed properly.
To address this issue, the Government of India introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under the E-Waste Management Rules 2022. Under EPR, producers, importers, and brand owners are responsible for the collection, recycling, and safe disposal of e-waste generated from their products.
The EPR system is regulated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) through an online portal, where businesses must register and fulfil their recycling targets by working with authorized recyclers and purchasing EPR certificates.
E-Waste Management focuses on the proper collection, recycling, reuse, and environmentally sound disposal of electronic waste. Its main objective is to reduce pollution, promote sustainable practices, and support a circular economy by recovering valuable materials from used electronic products.
Simple concept: Reduce → Reuse → Recycle
OVERVIEW OF E-WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES 2022
The E-Waste Management Rules 2022 were notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on 2nd November 2022 and became effective from 1st April 2023. These rules replaced the earlier 2016 framework and introduced a more structured and digital approach to e-waste management through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Under these rules, all entities including producers, manufacturers, importers, refurbishers, and recyclers dealing with electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) must register on the CPCB portal. Without registration, no entity is allowed to manufacture, sell, import, or handle such products in India.
The rules are based on a digital EPR system, where producers must fulfil their recycling obligations by purchasing EPR certificates generated by registered recyclers.
Mandatory registration on CPCB portal for all stakeholders including producers, recyclers, and refurbishers.
Separate registration for each category such as producer, recycler, or refurbisher.
Achievement of EPR targets based on quantity of products placed in the market.
Purchase of EPR certificates from authorized recyclers and filing of annual returns.
EPR REGISTRATION FOR MANUFACTURERS & IMPORTERS
Under the E-Waste Management Rules 2022, EPR registration is mandatory for all entities involved in manufacturing, importing, or selling electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) in India.
Registered entities must comply with key responsibilities such as meeting recycling targets, purchasing EPR certificates from authorized recyclers, maintaining records, and filing annual returns on the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) portal.
The main objective of EPR is to promote responsible e-waste management, reduce environmental impact, and encourage recycling and sustainable practices.
Producers placing electrical and electronic equipment in the Indian market under their own name or brand.
Manufacturers involved in the production or assembly of electrical and electronic equipment.
Importers bringing electrical and electronic equipment or related products into India for sale or distribution.
Brand owners who place notified electronic products in the Indian market must also obtain EPR registration.
Sample of a Grant Certificate for EPR E-Waste Management

PRODUCTS COVERED UNDER ELECTRONIC EPR
Under the E-Waste Management Rules 2022, Electronic EPR applies to all electrical and electronic equipment listed under Schedule I, including their components, consumables, parts, and spare parts required for operation.
These products are mainly categorized into:
Information Technology & Telecommunication Equipment
Personal computers, laptops, notebooks, mobile phones, printers, scanners, routers, modems, GPS devices, telephones, servers, UPS, inverters, tablets, and phablets.
Consumer Electrical & Electronics
Televisions, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, microwave ovens, electric fans, audio-video systems, set-top boxes, and cameras.
Lighting Equipment
LED bulbs and tubes, fluorescent lamps, high-intensity discharge lamps, and street or industrial lighting systems.
Large & Small Household Appliances
Vacuum cleaners, electric cookers, stoves, hair dryers, shavers, coffee machines, air purifiers, electric irons, dishwashers, and heating-cooling appliances.
Electrical & Electronic Tools
Drills, saws, grinders, welding and soldering machines, garden tools, and manufacturing tools.
Toys, Sports & Leisure Equipment
Video game consoles, electronic toys, coin-operated machines, and fitness or sports electronic devices.
Medical & Laboratory Equipment
MRI, CT scan and PET equipment, X-ray machines, dialysis equipment, monitoring devices, laboratory analysers, and diagnostic systems.
However, the following items are not covered under Electronic EPR:
Battery waste, which is covered under Battery Waste Management.
Plastic packaging waste, which is covered under Plastic Waste Management.
Radioactive waste, which is regulated separately under the Atomic Energy laws.
List of Categories of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Cover under EPR Registration
| Sr No. | Categories of Electrical and Electronic Equipment | EEE Code | Average Life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Technology and Telecommunication Equipment | |||
| 1 | Centralized data processing | ITEW1 | - |
| 2 | Mainframe | ITEW1 | 10 Years |
| 3 | Minicomputer | ITEW1 | 5 Years |
| 4 | Personal Computers (CPU with input/output devices) | ITEW2 | 6 Years |
| 5 | Laptop Computers (CPU with input/output devices) | ITEW3 | 5 Years |
| 6 | Notebook Computers | ITEW4 | 5 Years |
| 7 | Notepad Computers | ITEW4 | 5 Years |
| 8 | Printers including cartridges | ITEW6 | 10 Years |
| 9 | Copying equipment | ITEW7 | 8 Years |
| 10 | Electrical and electronic typewriters | ITEW8 | 5 Years |
| 11 | User terminals and systems | ITEW9 | 6 Years |
| 12 | Facsimile | ITEW10 | 10 Years |
| 13 | Telex | ITEW11 | 5 Years |
| 14 | Telephones | ITEW12 | 9 Years |
| 15 | Pay telephones | ITEW13 | 9 Years |
| 16 | Cordless telephones | ITEW14 | 9 Years |
| 17 | Cellular telephones | ITEW15 | - |
| 18 | Feature phones | ITEW15 | 7 Years |
| 19 | Smart phones | ITEW15 | 5 Years |
| 20 | Answering systems | ITEW16 | 5 Years |
| Consumer Electrical and Electronics | |||
| 21 | Television sets (LCD / LED) | CEEW1 | 9 Years |
| 22 | Refrigerator | CEEW2 | 10 Years |
| 23 | Washing Machine | CCEW3 | 9 Years |
| 24 | Air-conditioners excluding centralized air conditioning plants | CCEW4 | 10 Years |
| 25 | Fluorescent and other Mercury containing lamps | CEEW5 | 2 Years |
DRAFT AVERAGE LIFE PROPOSED FOR THE NOTIFIED ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (EEE) ITEMS UNDER THE E-WASTE (MANAGEMENT) RULES, 2022
| Sr No. | Categories of Electrical and Electronic Equipment | EEE Code | Average Life (Years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRODUCTS OR EQUIPMENT OF TRANSMITTING SOUND, IMAGES OR OTHER INFORMATION BY TELECOMMUNICATIONS | |||
| i | Bluetooth enabled devices | ITEW17 | 3 |
| ii | Telecommunication Antenna’s | ITEW17 | 7 |
| iii | Transmitters | ITEW17 | 5 |
| iv | Walkie talkie | ITEW17 | 5 |
| v | Wi-Fi / Wireless enabled devices | ITEW17 | 3 |
| vi | Radio / Satellite Telephone | ITEW17 | 7 |
| vii | BTS (all components excluding structure of tower) | ITEW18 | 15 |
| viii | Tablets, I-PAD | ITEW19 | 5 |
| ix | Phablets | ITEW20 | 5 |
| x | Scanners | ITEW21 | 5 |
| xi | Routers | ITEW22 | 10 |
| xii | GPS | ITEW23 | 5 |
| xiii | UPS | ITEW24 | 5 – up to 2 KVA / 7 – >2KVA |
| xiv | Inverter | ITEW25 | 5 – up to 2 KVA / 7 – >2KVA |
| xv | Modems | ITEW26 | 5 |
| xvi | Electronic data storage devices | ITEW27 | 5 – for flash drives / 10 – for large devices like servers |
| CONSUMER ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS AND PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS | |||
| i | Screen, Electronic Photo frames, Electronic Display Panel, Monitors | CEEW6 | 7 |
| ii | Radio sets | CEEW7 | 8 |
| iii | Set top Boxes | CEEW8 | 8 |
| iv | Video Cameras | CEEW9 | 5 |
| v | Video Recorders | CEEW10 | 5 |
| vi | Hi-Fi Recorders | CEEW11 | 5 |
| vii | Audio Amplifiers | CEEW12 | 7 |
| OTHER PRODUCTS OR EQUIPMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECORDING OR REPRODUCING SOUND OR IMAGES INCLUDING SIGNALS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOUND AND IMAGE BY TELECOMMUNICATIONS | |||
| i | CCTV Camera with DVR & NVR | CEEW13 | 7 |
| ii | Digital sound and video recorder and player | CEEW13 | 7 |
| iii | Other products or equipment for the purpose of recording or reproducing sound or images including signals and other technologies for the distribution of sound and image by telecommunications | CEEW13 | 7 |
| iv | Solar panels/cells, solar Photovoltaic panels/cells/modules | CEEW14 | 15 |
| v | Luminaires for fluorescent lamps with the exception of luminaires in households | CEEW15 | 2 |
| vi | High intensity discharge lamps, including pressure sodium lamps and metal halide lamps | CEEW16 | 2 |
| vii | Low pressure sodium lamps | CEEW17 | 2 |
| viii | Digital camera | CEEW19 | 5 |
| OTHER LIGHTING OR EQUIPMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SPREADING OR CONTROLLING LIGHT EXCLUDING FILAMENT BULBS | |||
| i | LED used by Consumers | CEEW18 | 3 |
| ii | LED used for Professional purpose | CEEW18 | 5 |
| LARGE AND SMALL ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT | |||
| i | Large cooling appliances | LSEEW1 | 10 |
| ii | Freezers | LSEEW2 | 10 |
| iii | Other large appliances used for refrigeration, conservation and storage of food | LSEEW3 | 10 |
| iv | Clothes dryers | LSEEW4 | 10 |
| v | Dish Washing Machines | LSEEW5 | 10 |
| vi | Electric cookers | LSEEW6 | 5 |
| vii | Electric stoves | LSEEW7 | 5 |
| viii | Electric hot plates | LSEEW8 | 5 |
| ix | Microwaves, Microwave Oven | LSEEW9 | 7 |
| x | Other large appliances used for cooking and other processing of food | LSEEW10 | 10 |
| xi | Electric heating appliances | LSEEW11 | 8 |
| xii | Electric radiators | LSEEW12 | 7 |
| xiii | Other large appliances for heating rooms, beds, seating furniture | LSEEW13 | 7 |
| xiv | Electric fans | LSEEW14 | 15 |
| xv | Other fanning, exhaust ventilation and conditioning equipment | LSEEW15 | 10 |
| xvi | Vacuum cleaners | LSEEW16 | 10 |
| xvii | Carpet sweepers | LSEEW17 | 10 |
| xviii | Other appliances for cleaning | LSEEW18 | 10 |
| xix | Appliances used for sewing, knitting, weaving and other processing for textiles | LSEEW19 | 7 |
| xx | Iron and other appliances for ironing, mangling and other care of clothing | LSEEW20 | 5 |
| xxi | Grinders, coffee machines and equipment for opening or sealing containers or packages | LSEEW21 | 7 |
| xxii | Smoke detector | LSEEW22 | 10 |
| xxiii | Heating Regulators | LSEEW23 | 5 |
| xxiv | Thermostats | LSEEW24 | 5 |
| xxv | Automatic dispensers for hot drinks | LSEEW25 | 7 |
| xxvi | Automatic dispensers for hot or cold bottles or cans | LSEEW26 | 7 |
| xxvii | Automatic dispensers for solid products | LSEEW27 | 10 |
| xxviii | Automatic dispensers for money | LSEEW28 | 10 |
| xxix | All appliances which deliver automatically all kinds of products | LSEEW29 | 10 |
| xxx | Indoor air purifier | LSEEW30 | 10 |
| xxxi | Hair dryer | LSEEW31 | 3 |
| xxxii | Electric shaver | LSEEW32 | 3 |
| xxxiii | Electric kettle | LSEEW33 | 5 |
| xxxiv | Electronic display panels/board/visual display unit | LSEEW34 | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC TOOLS (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LARGE-SCALE STATIONARY INDUSTRIAL TOOLS) | |||
| i | Drills | EETW1 | 8 |
| ii | Saws | EETW2 | 10 |
| iii | Sewing Machines | EETW3 | 15 |
| iv | Equipment for turning, milling, sanding, grinding, sawing, cutting, shearing, drilling, making holes, punching, folding, bending or similar processing of wood, metal and other materials | EETW4 | 10 |
| v | Tools for riveting, nailing or screwing or removing rivets, nails, screws or similar uses | EETW5 | 10 |
| vi | Tools for welding, soldering, or similar use | EETW6 | 10 |
| vii | Equipment for spraying, spreading, dispersing or other treatment of liquid or gaseous substance by other means | EETW7 | 10 |
| viii | Tools for mowing or other gardening activities | EETW8 | 10 |
| TOYS, LEISURE AND SPORTS EQUIPMENT | |||
| i | Electrical trains or car racing sets | TLSEW1 | 2 |
| ii | Hand-held video games consoles | TLSEW2 | 2 |
| iii | Video games | TLSEW3 | 2 |
| iv | Computers for biking, diving, running, rowing, etc. | TLSEW4 | 3 |
| v | Sports equipment with electric or electronic components | TLSEW5 | 5 |
| vi | Coin slot machines | TLSEW6 | 8 |
| MEDICAL DEVICES (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ALL IMPLANTED AND INFECTED PRODUCTS) | |||
| i | Radiotherapy equipment and accessories | MDW1 | 20 |
| ii | Cardiology equipment and accessories | MDW2 | 10 |
| iii | Dialysis equipment and accessories | MDW3 | 10 |
| PULMONARY VENTILATORS AND ACCESSORIES | |||
| i | Diagnostic Cardiology | MDW4 | 7 |
| ii | Anaesthesia & Respiratory | MDW4 | 10 |
| iii | Nuclear Medicine Equipment and accessories | MDW5 | 20 |
| iv | Laboratory equipment for in vitro diagnosis and accessories | MDW6 | 15 |
| v | Analysers and accessories | MDW7 | 10 |
| MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI), POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY (PET) SCANNER, COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCANNER, & ULTRASOUND EQUIPMENT ALONG WITH ACCESSORIES | |||
| i | MRI | MDW8 | 20 |
| ii | PET CT/PET | MDW8 | 20 |
| iii | SPECT CT/ SPECT | MDW8 | 20 |
| iv | CT | MDW8 | 20 |
| v | US | MDW8 | 7 |
| vi | Fertilization tests equipment and accessories | MDW9 | 10 |
| vii | Maternal & Infant care products | MDW10 | 7 |
| viii | C-Arm | MDW10 | 7 |
| ix | Monitoring Solution products/High end | MDW10 | 15 |
| x | X-ray and fluoroscopy | MDW10 | 10 |
| xi | Mammography devices | MDW10 | 10 |
| xii | Other electric appliances/equipment/kits used for preventing, screening, detecting, monitoring, evaluating, reviewing, examining, investigating, probing, treating illness sickness, disease, disorder, affliction, infection, injury, trauma, abuse or disability including the Mobiles, Tablets or any other device with the features having the potential of sex selection and their accessories | MDW10 | 7 |
| LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS | |||
| i | Gas analyser | LIW1 | 8 |
| ii | Equipment having electrical and electronic components | LIW2 | 8 |
EPR REGISTRATION PROCESS & REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Under the E-Waste Management Rules 2022, EPR registration is completed through the online portal of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The official application is filed on the CPCB portal.
EPR Registration Process –
| Step | Process Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Registration on CPCB EPR portal |
| 2 | Filing of online application with company & product details |
| 3 | Uploading required documents and EPR plan |
| 4 | Payment of applicable government fees |
| 5 | Application review by Central Pollution Control Board |
| 6 | Clarification/query response (if raised) |
| 7 | Grant of EPR Registration Certificate |
Documents Required for EPR Registration –
| Category | Documents |
|---|---|
| Basic Details | PAN Card, GST Certificate |
| Business Registration | Certificate of Incorporation / Firm Registration |
| Import Details | IEC Certificate (for importers) |
| Product Information | Product details & quantity placed in market |
| Authorization | Authorized signatory details & declaration |
| Compliance | RoHS Compliance Declaration |
| Agreements | Agreement with authorized recycler/dismantler |
| EPR Plan | EPR plan with collection & recycling mechanism |
| Approvals | CTO/CTE (if applicable) |
| Additional | Details of awareness programs & EPR budget |
In many practical cases, the complete registration process takes around 15 to 25 working days when documents are accurate and CPCB queries are answered on time.
FEES, TIMELINE, VALIDITY & EXEMPTIONS FOR EPR
This section provides details on EPR registration fees, approval timeline, certificate validity, and renewal process as per E-Waste Management Rules 2022. It also explains applicable exemptions and categories covered under separate environmental regulations.
EPR Registration Fees Structure (As per E-Waste Management Rules 2022) –
| S. No | User Type | Activity | Registration fee/charges (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recycler | New Recycler (1st time registration valid for five years) Renewal of registration (after five years) In case of any amendments/addendum | 15,000/- 7,500/- + 0.625/MT for quantity of EPR certificate transaction in the preceding five years 3,000/- |
| 2 | Refurbisher | New Refurbisher (1st time registration valid for five years) Renewal of registration (after five years) In case of any amendments/addendum | 15,000/- 7,500/- + 0.625/MT for quantity of Refurbishing certificate transaction in the preceding five years 3,000/- |
| 3 | Manufacturer | One time registration | 15,000/- |
| 4 | All Stakeholders | Annual Maintenance charges for Producers, Recycler, Refurbisher and Manufacturer | 5,000/- |
Important Notes:
• Fees are defined under E-Waste Management Rules 2022.
• Applicable to entities registered with Central Pollution Control Board.
• Producers also incur EPR certificate purchase cost (recycling cost) separately.
Timeline –
| Activity | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Application Review | 30–60 days (typical) |
| Maximum Time (as per rules) | Up to 120 days from complete application |
| Query/Clarification | Within ~25 days (if documents incomplete) |
Validity & Renewal –
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Certificate Validity | 5 years |
| Renewal | Required before expiry |
| Compliance | Annual return filing mandatory |
Exemptions –
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Batteries | Covered under Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 |
| Plastic Packaging | Covered under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 |
| Radioactive Waste | Governed by Atomic Energy Act, 1962 |
POST-COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS & ROLE OF CPCB
After obtaining EPR registration under the E-Waste Management Rules 2022, producers must continue compliance by meeting their EPR targets through purchase of EPR certificates, maintaining accurate records of products placed in the market, and filing annual returns on the CPCB portal. They must also ensure that e-waste is recycled only through registered recyclers.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) acts as the central authority for implementation and monitoring, including registration approval, tracking EPR targets, managing the online portal, and enforcing compliance through audits and necessary actions.
Meet annual recycling targets fixed by CPCB based on quantity placed in the market and the average lifespan of products.
Ensure collection and recycling only through CPCB-authorized recyclers or eligible Producer Responsibility Organizations.
File annual returns on the CPCB EPR portal with details of products sold, e-waste collected, certificates purchased, and target achievement.
Maintain proper records and supporting documents to demonstrate ongoing compliance.
Avoid non-compliance, because failure can lead to environmental compensation, penalties, suspension, or cancellation of registration.
CONCLUSION
EPR registration for e-waste is a crucial requirement for businesses dealing in electrical and electronic equipment to ensure compliance with the E-Waste Management Rules 2022. It not only helps organizations meet legal obligations but also promotes responsible e-waste management through proper collection, recycling, and environmentally safe disposal practices. By fulfilling EPR targets, maintaining records, and ensuring recycling through authorized channels, businesses contribute to reducing environmental pollution and supporting a sustainable, circular economy.
From registration and documentation to meeting compliance requirements such as EPR targets, annual returns, and certificate management, the process can be complex and time-consuming. EVTL India simplifies this entire journey by offering complete end-to-end support, including application filing, documentation, coordination, and post-compliance assistance. With strong expertise and direct handling of procedures with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), EVTL ensures a smooth, fast, and hassle-free EPR registration process for manufacturers, importers, and brand owners, helping businesses stay fully compliant and focused on growth.

