Solar Waste Treatment under E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 on 2^nd November, 2022. Management of solar PV modules panels/ cells has been added in Chapter V of the said rules. As per these rules, every manufacturer and producer of solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells shall:

I. ensure registration on the portal;

II. store solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells waste generated up to the year 2034-2035 as per the guidelines laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board in this regard;

III. file annual returns in the laid down form on the portal on or before the end of the year to which the return relates up to year 2034-2035;

IV. ensure that the processing of the waste other than solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells shall be done as per the applicable rules or guidelines for the time being in force;

V. ensure that the inventory of solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells shall be put in place distinctly on portal; and

VI. comply with standard operating procedure and guidelines laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board in this regard.

Further, Recycler of solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells shall be mandated for recovery of material as laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board in this regard.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Renewable Energy & Power R.K. Singh in the Rajya Sabha on 14 March, 2023.