Online retailers like Amazon and eBay will have to pay a "fair share" of recycling electronic waste in UK as per the new norms announced by the government, according to a BBC report.
All online retailers will have to contribute to recycling costs for electronic products. The move is expected to create a level-playing field for domestic retailers in UK who end up shouldering a majority of the costs
Online retailers like Amazon and eBay will have to pay a "fair share" of recycling electronic waste in UK as per the new norms announced by the government, according to a BBC report.
Until now, local firms were shouldering a majority of costs around collection and processing of electronic waste. This has reportedly been putting local firms at a disadvantage.
"Under these new plans, online marketplaces – Amazon, eBay and others – will face much tougher obligations to ensure that overseas sellers who use their platforms contribute to that cost of collection and recycling," said Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh, cited in the report.
Online retailers have so far managed to avoid the compliance fee associated with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations or WEEE regulations of 2013.
Under these regulations, all business generating a significant amount of waste would have to comply with these norms. Several businesses including offices, retail and wholesale, transport and storage, hospitality, cafes, restaurants and hotels, schools, colleges and universities, healthcare institutions are covered under these regulations.
Amendments to the WEEE Regulations were enforced in 2019. Efforts were made to ensure that costs the of collection and proper treatment are shared equitably amongst all producer compliance schemes according to the market share of their members.
According to the new regulation, online marketplaces will need to register with the UK’s Environment Agency and report UK sales made by overseas sellers. The reported sales data will be used to calculate how much online marketplaces must contribute towards recycling costs.
Furthermore, vapes (e-cigarettes) will be placed in a separate category for recycling, instead of being grouped with toys and leisure items. This ensures that the growing waste from vapes is managed properly.
The UK’s Environment Agency (and equivalent regulators in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) will enforce the new rules, ensuring online platforms and sellers comply.
UK is currently trying boost its commitment to a circular economy, which is the idea of reusing, repairing, and the sharing of materials and products to live in a more environmentally sustainable world.
India has also been taking several measures to improve e-waste management in the country by strengthening regulations, expanding recycling facilities and raising awareness. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms apply to electronic waste as well. Here's a quick look at the policy situation.
India has already implemented a comprehensive framework for managing e-waste through its E-Waste (Management) Rules 2022, published by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. These rules include Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) which requires manufacturers, importers and sellers to manage the entire lifecycle of their products from collection, recycling to the safe disposal of e-waste.
Online marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart are also subject to these rules as they allow the sale of electronic goods. The regulations require producers (manufacturers, importers and sellers) to register with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and ensure compliance with EPR targets. These targets specify the amount of e-waste that producers must collect and recycle, calculated as a percentage of their past sales.
Non-compliance could attract penalties of up to Rs 80,000 for producers and Rs 60,00 for recyclers. The CPCB could take further action against non-complying firms by cancelling their registration, shutting operations and imposing further levies.
Moreover, the rules aim to ensure that imported products sold on these platforms do not escape responsibility for e-waste management. Sellers, including those using online marketplaces, must work with registered recyclers or producer responsibility organisations (PROs) to meet recycling obligations.
The regulations are part of India's efforts to achieve a circular economy through advancements in waste management practices.