Rules 6 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rules 6, 7 and 8 set out what producers, refurbishers and bulk consumers must do under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. The producer's central duty is to obtain and implement EPR targets through the portal. The refurbisher must hand over its e-waste to a registered recycler, and the bulk consumer may hand e-waste only to registered entities. Refrigerant management duties were added in 2023.
These Rules are current as amended up to the E-Waste (Management) Second Amendment Rules, 2024 (G.S.R. 699(E), 12 November 2024). Later amendments, CPCB guidelines and notifications should be checked. If you are a brand owner or large institution and need your obligations laid out and documented, our compliance documentation team can help.
A producer must register, obtain and implement EPR targets under Schedules III and IV through the portal, create awareness and file annual and quarterly returns (rule 6). A refurbisher must hand e-waste to a registered recycler and ensure refurbished equipment meets the Compulsory Registration Scheme and BIS standards (rule 7). A bulk consumer must hand e-waste only to a registered producer, refurbisher or recycler (rule 8).
Rule 6: the producer
A producer of Schedule I equipment is responsible for:
- Registration on the portal (6(1)).
- EPR targets: obtaining and implementing EPR targets as per Schedules III and IV through the portal (6(2)). The proviso says a producer that had an EPR plan under the erstwhile E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 shall migrate under these Rules as per the procedure laid down by the CPCB with the approval of the Steering Committee.
- Awareness through media, publications, advertisements, posters or other communication (6(3)).
- Returns: annual and quarterly returns in the laid down form on the portal on or before the end of the month succeeding the quarter or year (6(4)).
Rule 6 does not itself contain the refrigerant duty for producers; rule 5(4) (manufacturers), 7(5) (refurbishers) and 9(11) (recyclers) carry it, and a producer that also manufactures or refurbishes takes it through those roles. The EPR targets and the certificate system are explained in rules 13 to 15.
Rule 7: the refurbisher
Every refurbisher shall:
- register on the portal (7(1));
- collect e-waste generated during refurbishing, hand it to a registered recycler and upload the information on the portal (7(2));
- ensure that refurbished equipment is as per the Compulsory Registration Scheme of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Bureau of Indian Standards' standards framed for this purpose (7(3));
- file annual and quarterly returns on the portal by the end of the month after the period (7(4));
- ensure secure, accountable and sustainable management of refrigerant generated from end-of-life refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment by approved destruction technologies as per the CPCB's guidelines (7(5), inserted by G.S.R. 534(E) of 24 July 2023).
Refurbishing also affects producers' targets: a refurbishing certificate defers a producer's EPR for the extended life of the product, as explained in rule 14(2), see rules 13 to 15.
Rule 8: the bulk consumer
Bulk consumers of Schedule I equipment shall ensure that e-waste generated by them is handed over only to a registered producer, refurbisher or recycler. A bulk consumer is an entity that has used at least one thousand units of Schedule I equipment at any time in the financial year, including an e-retailer (rule 3(1)(b)). The rule has no registration or return duty for the bulk consumer; the chain of custody is the duty.
Duties at a glance
| Rule | Role | Register | Returns | Hand-over / other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Producer | Yes | Annual and quarterly | EPR targets via portal; awareness; migrate 2016 plan |
| 7 | Refurbisher | Yes | Annual and quarterly | Waste to registered recycler; CRS and BIS standards; refrigerant |
| 8 | Bulk consumer | No category | None printed | Hand e-waste only to registered producer, refurbisher or recycler |
Schedules II-A, II-B and II-C
These three Schedules were inserted in 2023 (G.S.R. 534(E)) and work with rule 16 on hazardous substances:
- Schedule II-A lists applications specific to medical devices and monitoring and control instruments, including laboratory equipment, exempt from rule 16(1), such as lead, cadmium and mercury in ionising radiation detectors, lead bearings in X-ray tubes, lead in ion selective electrodes and lead in MRI alloys (24 entries).
- Schedule II-B names categories of equipment (information technology, telecommunication and some consumer items) whose components, consumables, parts and spares placed in the market on or before 1 May 2014 are exempt where compliant parts are unavailable (rule 16(2)).
- Schedule II-C names other categories (further IT, consumer, lighting, large and small appliance and similar equipment) that are exempt if placed in the market on or before 1 April 2025 (rule 16(2A)), with their components, consumables, parts and spares exempt till 1 April 2028 where compliant parts are unavailable (rule 16(2B)).
Rule 16 is covered in rules 16 to 25.
Who is affected
Brand owners and importers of electronics, refurbishers of laptops, phones and appliances, and large users such as corporate offices, hospitals, institutions and e-retailers. Each should check the documents that prove the chain of custody for e-waste.
Example
Orion Bank Limited retires 1,500 laptops and printers in a financial year. Because it has used more than one thousand units of Schedule I equipment, it is a bulk consumer. It sells the retired devices only to a refurbisher and a recycler that hold registration on the portal, and keeps the registration numbers and hand-over records on file, because rule 8 requires hand-over only to a registered producer, refurbisher or recycler.
Need help with producer and refurbisher duties?
The duties turn on records: registrations, certificates and returns that tie to one another. Our compliance documentation team can help you build and maintain them for each role.
Key takeaways
- Producers register, take EPR targets via the portal and file quarterly and annual returns; 2016 plan holders migrate under the CPCB's procedure.
- Refurbishers register, hand waste to registered recyclers and ensure refurbished equipment meets the Compulsory Registration Scheme and BIS standards.
- Bulk consumers hand e-waste only to registered producers, refurbishers or recyclers.
- Refrigerant duties for manufacturers, refurbishers and recyclers were added in July 2023.
- Schedules II-A to II-C hold hazardous substance exemptions under rule 16.
Read next
- Rules 4 and 5: registration and manufacturer duties
- Rules 9 to 12: recyclers, States, storage and solar panels
- Rules 13 to 15: targets, certificates and price band
- Licenses and registrations required for a waste management company
Disclaimer: Based on the environment rules, guidelines and notifications named above as published in the Gazette of India, read with every amendment notified up to 3 October 2026 that the article names (consolidated reading texts from the CPCB 2021 compilation and the Goa State Pollution Control Board 2025 compilation were checked against the amending notifications), as consulted on 3 October 2026. Later amendments, CPCB guidelines, State Board orders and fees should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.