India's New End-of-Life Vehicles Rules Set to Transform Recycling and Scrapping with Centralized Online Portal

On 6 January 2025, India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) published the Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025, under the powers granted by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. These rules apply to entities involved in the production, ownership, testing, and scrapping of vehicles, including electric and battery powered vehicles. However, the rules do not apply to waste batteries, plastic packaging, waste tyres, used oil, and e-waste, which are covered by other regulations. The rules also do not apply to agricultural machinery such as tractors, trailers, harvesters, and power tillers as defined in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. 

Centralised Online Portal 

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is required to establish a centralized online portal within six months of the publication of the rules. This portal will:  

• Handle registration and return filing of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) for producers, bulk consumers, and Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSF).  

• Track the receipt of ELVs and waste materials generated by RVSFs, ensuring real-time data availability.  

• Enable the exchange of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates between producers and RVSFs to meet EPR obligations.  

The State Board will use this portal to register RVSFs and bulk consumers, as well as for return filing. It will serve as a centralized data repository for all related activities, including issued orders. Producers may assist in the development of the portal. 

Implementation  

The Central Government may form a committee, chaired by the Chairman of the Central Board, to ensure effective implementation of specific rules. The committee will monitor implementation, take necessary actions, and guide the development and operation of a centralized online portal. It must meet at least once every six months and report to the Central Government. The Committee will consist of representatives from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Steel, the Bureau of Indian Standards, State Boards, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, and stakeholders such as producers, recyclers, and scrapping facilities, along with any other nominated individuals or organizations. The Committee chairperson can invite additional individuals or organizations to attend meetings if their input is deemed valuable to the discussions. 

Extended Producer Responsibility Targets for ELVs 

The new EPR framework sets out specific obligations for vehicle manufacturers: 

1. EPR targets apply to vehicles based on their category and average lifespan. 

2. Targets include scrapping of steel from End-of-Life vehicles. 

3. EPR for batteries follows the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. 

4. EPR for waste tyres and used oil follows the Hazardous Waste Rules, 2016. 

5. EPR targets are specific to the type of vehicle (transport or non-transport). 

6. Producers fulfil their EPR obligations through certificates from Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities through a centralized portal. 

7. If certificates are unavailable, producers are responsible for the collection of vehicles. 

Entry into Force 

The Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025 will come into force on 1 April 2025.