On January 5, 2022, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change shared the draft notification for regulations on “extended producer responsibility (EPR) for waste tyres”.

Key facts

• The regulation will be effective in the fiscal year 2022-23, if finalised.
• Draft notification was shared in because, NGT data shows that India discards around 275,000 tyres each year, but there does not exist any comprehensive plan for them.
• Furthermore, around 3 million waste tyres are imported for recycling.

Background

On September 19, 2019, NGT had directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to draft a comprehensive waste management plan for waste tyres & their recycling. NGT directed this in a case related to absence of proper management of End-of-Life Tyres/Waste Tyres (ELTs). In this case, petitioner had said that pyrolysis industry in India produces inferior quality products, which should be banned for preventing environmental damage. Petitioner also highlighted that industry emits highly carcinogenic or cancer-causing pollutants, which are harmful for respiratory system.

Recycling of waste tyres

Waste tyres are recycled as reclaimed rubber, crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRMB), crumb rubber, pyrolysis oil/char and recovered carbon black.