In News:

MoEFCC Notifies Rules for End-of-Life Vehicles to Minimize Waste and Pollution.

Key Highlights:

Notified by: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
Effective from: April 1, 2025
Legal Basis: Environment Protection Act, 1986
Objective: To promote environmentally sound management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), enable recycling and reuse of vehicle components, and reduce resource extraction, pollution, and waste generation.

Key Features of the ELV Rules, 2025

1. Scope and Coverage

• Applicable to all vehicle categories including electric vehicles (EVs), e-rickshaws, and e-carts.
• Exempted vehicles: Agricultural tractors, trailers, combine harvesters, and power tillers.
• Exempted waste types: Batteries, plastics, tyres, used oil, and e-waste (governed under separate waste management rules).

2. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

• Vehicle producers are mandated to meet annual scrapping targets based on the age of vehicles:
  • Transport vehicles: 15 years
  • Non-transport vehicles: 20 years
• Producers must fulfill their EPR obligations for all vehicles introduced into the domestic market, including those used internally.
• Annual EPR declarations must be submitted to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) by April 30 each year.
• Producers must promote ELV deposition at designated collection centres or Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs).

3. Responsibilities of Stakeholders

• Registered Owners & Bulk Consumers: Required to deposit ELVs at designated centres or RVSFs within 180 days of becoming unfit.
• Collection Centres:
  • Handle ELVs in an environmentally responsible manner.
  • Maintain records and ensure safe storage and transfer to RVSFs.
• Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs):
  • Undertake depollution, dismantling, segregation, and recycling.
  • Ensure environmentally sound disposal of non-recyclables via authorized TSDFs.
  • Issue EPR certificates based on the volume of steel processed; valid for 5 years.

4. Monitoring, Compliance, and Penalties

• CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) are responsible for:
  • Registration, inspection, and audit of producers, RVSFs, and bulk consumers.
  • Taking action against non-compliance, including suspension or cancellation of registration.
  • Levying environmental compensation for violations that cause harm to public health or the environment.

5. Registration & Certification

• Producers register with CPCB; RVSFs and bulk consumers with respective SPCBs.
• Registration certificates are issued within 15 days of application via a centralized online portal.
• EPR certificates are non-transferable and allow adjustment of both current and backlog obligations.

Related Policy and Incentives by MoRTH

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) supports the ELV Rules through:

• Vehicle Scrapping Policy: Targets voluntary phasing out of unfit and polluting vehicles.
• Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Rules, 2021: Provides operational criteria for RVSFs.
• Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2021:
  • Waiver of registration fee for buyers submitting ELV Certificates of Deposit.
  • Concession in motor vehicle tax: 25% for non-transport, 15% for transport vehicles.

Electric Mobility Push

• MoRTH has issued several notifications promoting EVs, including:
  • Permit exemptions for battery-operated and ethanol/methanol-fueled vehicles.
  • Fee exemptions for registration and renewals.
  • Tourist permit benefits for EVs and distinct registration marks for visibility.

PM E-DRIVE Scheme

• Launched by Ministry of Heavy Industries on 29th September 2024 with a ?10,900 crore outlay.
• Aims to support electric 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, ambulances, trucks, and buses with ?3,679 crore in demand incentives.
• Targets subsidization of over 28 lakh EVs.