Refurbisher Authorization | Refurbisher License

What is E-Waste?

E-Waste is an abbreviated term used to denote Electronic Waste including electronic products that are unwanted, not working, and nearing or at the end of their “useful life.” Computers, TV Set, stereos, photocopy machine, and printers are everyday electronic products.

According to the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 'E-Waste' means any electrical and electronic equipment, whose life has been ended or in part discarded as waste by the consumer or bulk consumer as well as rejects from manufacturing industry, refurbishment industry and repair processes.

Who is a Refurbisher?

According to the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 “Refurbishment” is a process in which improvement of used electrical and electronic equipment as listed in Schedule I for extending its shelf life for its originally supposed use and distribute constant within the market or returning to owner is carried out. 

A refurbisher is a person who will carry out the whole process of refurbishment in his/her business premises.

E-Waste production scenario

Electronic waste is spreading a very serious public health and environmental issue in India. India is the “fifth largest electronic waste producer in the world”. It is an estimate that 2 million tons of e-waste is generated annually and an unrevealed number of electronic products is imported from other countries around the world and when the life of these product finishes, they account for E-Waste.

Different category electronic items contribute for E-Waste annually, Personal Computing Devices accounts for around 70% of e-waste, telecom sector accounts for 12% e-waste, 8% from medical equipment and 7% from electric equipment.

The Government division, public division companies, and private division companies produces nearly 75% of electronic waste, with the contribution of individual household being only 16%.

Refurbishment has an advantage over recycling; refurbishment not only reduces E-Waste but also extends the working life of the product. All refurbished materials verified to be in operating order. The crucial distinction between recycle and refurbishing is within the former materials are extracted and reused whereas within the latter elements in operating condition are reused in new materials.

Hence refurbishing is healthier for the atmosphere because even effective recycling processes produce some waste. Because many materials cannot be recycled indefinitely, eventually a lot of e-waste becomes utterly useless to recyclers. Refurbishing, on the opposite hand, is effective as a result of operating elements is reused in new materials.

Another advantage of refurbishing e-waste is that older elements will take the place of recent ones while not compromising the standard of freshly factory-made. Customers taken with technology will not notice any distinction in quality once they get a replacement of electronic product factory-made refurbished e-waste. For refurbishing, people who recycle should buy natural materials whereas makers should use second-generation materials to manufacture new natural materials.

Following are the basic requirements to be a Refurbisher:

• The first basic thing required is a separate place. It should be a minimum of decent space where you'll keep all the E-Waste and waste aside from equipment and utilities.
• The second thing required is a closed space similar to a factory but small sized room can also work.
• The next necessary requirement is the equipment by which you repair the refurbished materials
• Next requirement is the Refurbished Materials which you need to repair. For this you'll make a network of refurbished materials suppliers which will supply the specified amount of refurbished materials. 

Land Requirement

The requirement of land depends on you. If you are interested in small scale refurbish business then it requires a small space but if you want large scale refurbish business then a large land is required for the refurbishment process.

Technician and Labors

To carry all the process of refurbishment you definitely require a technical person who can understand the machine technology. Hire a technician who knows the way to work with machines & refurbishment process.

What are the responsibilities of a Refurbisher?

Following are the responsibilities of a refurbisher:

• Gather the E-Waste generated throughout the process of refurbishing and send the waste to authorized dismantler or recycler through its assortment center.
• Make an application to the concerned SPCB for the authorization.
• Ensure that no destruction is caused in the environment due to the storage and transportation of E-Waste.
• Ensure that the e-waste therefore generated is safely transported to authorized assortment centers or dismantlers or recyclers.
• Ensure that the refurbishing process do not have any harmful effect on the health and on the environment.
• File annual returns to the concerned SPCB. Keep records of the E-Waste handled and such records ought to be accessible for scrutiny by the concerned authority.