India: ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ (EPR) required for entire tyre supply chain

September 27, 2022

Anyone in India who accepts tires for disposal or otherwise manages the disposal of used car tires or is in any way part of that disposal process must register with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB, Central Pollution Control Board, s. u. ) with a “Extended producer responsibility”, also an “extended producer responsibility”, register. Those who are not registered are not allowed to participate in the trade of tires, as notified by the Office under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change with the new law “Hazardous and Other Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2022″.

In addition to this requirement for registration, which targets manufacturers, recycling companies and tire retreaders, the new law also describes quotas for the reuse (recycling) of car tires. For example, tire manufacturers are to steadily increase their recycling quota, and starting in 2024, all tires produced are to be made of recycled material. It will also be prohibited to import used tires for the production of pyrolysis oil. Those who meet their quota will be able to purchase corresponding tradable certificates from the office. Those who deviate from their quotas or are also not registered will have to pay corresponding penalties.

The law has left many finer regulations to other departments of the government, so questions of exact implementation, any fees, or exact penalties, have yet to be answered. So the next few months will see some clarifications and possible changes.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a statutory organization, was established in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. In addition, the CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The CPCB serves as a field office and provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The main functions of the CPCB, as specified in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, are (i) to promote cleanliness of rivers and wells in various areas of the states by preventing, controlling and abating water pollution and (ii) to improve air quality and prevent, control or abate air pollution in the state.

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