New Environmental Compensation (EC) guidelines to strengthen waste tyre management have been approved by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Manufacturers not meeting their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets will face penalties of up to Rs. 8.40 per kg of waste tyres.

The guidelines also impose a fine of Rs. 25,000 for violations under the Hazardous and Other Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2022. The fine can increase to Rs. 1 lakh if the offence has been repeated. Additionally, a penalty of up to Rs. 8.40 per kg will be levied on producers who inaccurately report the quantity of waste tyres they have. The government will also charge additional administrative expenses.

EPR is a policy tool that shifts the responsibility for a product's environmental impact beyond its initial production, placing it on the producer throughout its entire life cycle, including its end of life management and disposal. These measures aim to enhance accountability and ensure proper waste tyre disposal. However, sector experts say while monitoring compliance is difficult, the real challenge lies in enforcing the law.

"The guidelines are good, but implementation should be made more stringent", said Debadityo Sinha, lead for climate and ecosystems at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. The action came months after the government mandated that producers fulfil their EPR obligations by purchasing EPR Certificates from registered recyclers.