Rules 51 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rules 51 to 59 are the duty rules of Chapter VIII of the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, the Chapter on extended producer responsibility for scrap of non-ferrous metals, in force from 1 April 2026. Each rule takes one kind of participant and lists what it must do, from the manufacturer's minimum use of recycled metal to the duties of the CPCB, the States and the Bureau of Indian Standards.
These Rules are current as amended up to G.S.R. 636(E) dated 16 July 2026 (Chapter VIII on non-ferrous metal scrap in force from 1 April 2026). Later amendments, CPCB guidelines and notifications should be checked. If you make, sell or recycle aluminium, copper or zinc products and want your duties laid out entity by entity, our compliance advisory team can do that for you.
Every manufacturer, producer, collection agent, refurbisher and recycler must register on the portal and file a half-yearly return on or before 31 October and an annual return on or before 30 June after the financial year (rules 51 to 55). A manufacturer must use domestically recycled material in new products as Schedule XIII requires, bought only from a registered recycler (rule 51). Bulk consumers must set up collection points and hand scrap only to registered entities (rule 56).
The duties at a glance
| Rule | Who | Main duties |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Manufacturer | Register; collect scrap and manufacturing waste and ensure recycling or disposal; use recycled material per Schedule XIII; file returns |
| 52 | Producer | Register; file returns; create awareness; ensure environmentally sound management, collection and transport of scrap |
| 53 | Collection agent | Register; collect end-of-life scrap from manufacturers, producers and bulk consumers and supply it to a registered recycler; upload the information; file returns |
| 54 | Refurbisher | Register; may collect scrap or used Schedule XII products; refurbish in an environmentally sound manner; hand waste to a registered recycler or disposal facility; file returns |
| 55 | Recycler | Register; keep facility and process in line with the Rules; prevent damage in storage, transport and recycling; dispose of residue lawfully; keep records; pass on what it cannot recycle; file returns |
| 56 | Bulk consumer | Set up collection points; hand scrap only to registered recyclers, refurbishers, producers or collection agents |
Rule 51: the manufacturer and recycled content
A manufacturer must register itself on the portal (51(1)) and must collect scrap of non-ferrous metals and the waste generated in making products, components, consumables or parts and ensure its recycling or disposal (51(2)).
Rule 51(3) is the most consequential: the manufacturer shall use domestically recycled materials for new products as per Schedule XIII, assessed against the total weight of the new product. The proviso lets the CPCB grant an exemption case by case where the obligation cannot be met on account of statutory or technical requirements. Note 1 defines a statutory requirement as a case where use of recycled material is not allowed by any other law in force, and Note 2 defines a technical requirement as a case where recycled material renders the product unfit for its intended use. The liability is to be ensured by purchasing recycled material from a registered recycler only (51(6)).
The manufacturer files a half-yearly return in the form on the portal on or before 31 October of every year and an annual return on or before 30 June following the financial year it relates to (51(4)). A manufacturer with several offices may file one annual return combining all of them (51(5)).
Schedule XIII: minimum use of recycled material
Schedule XIII gives the minimum use of recycled materials in new non-ferrous products, as a percentage of the total quantity of that metal used in making the product:
| Metal | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | 2030-31 | 2031-32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Copper | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
| Zinc | 5 | 10 | 15 | 25 |
Rule 52: the producer
A producer registers on the portal (52(1)) and files a half-yearly return by 31 October and an annual return by 30 June (52(2)), in the forms provided on the portal. It must create awareness through media, publications, advertisements, posters or any other means (52(3)) and ensure environmentally sound management of scrap and its collection and transport (52(4)). The recycling target itself and the buying of certificates are in rules 46 and 49; see our article on rules 44 to 50.
Rules 53 and 54: collection agents and refurbishers
A collection agent registers, collects end-of-life scrap from manufacturers, producers and bulk consumers, supplies it to a registered recycler and uploads the relevant information on the portal (53(1)). It files the same half-yearly and annual returns (53(2)).
A refurbisher registers and may collect scrap or used products listed in Schedule XII together with their components, consumables, parts or scrap and ensure their refurbishing (54(1)). It files the same returns (54(2)), must refurbish in an environmentally sound manner (54(3)) and must hand waste generated in refurbishing to a registered recycler or a disposal facility (54(4)).
Rule 55: the recycler
The recycler is the entity whose output generates EPR certificates, so its duties are the longest:
- Register on the portal (55(1)).
- Ensure its facility and recycling processes are in accordance with the Rules (55(2)) and that no damage is caused to the environment during storage, transportation and recycling (55(3)).
- Dispose of residue in accordance with prevalent rules and regulations (55(4)).
- File the half-yearly and annual returns on the dates above (55(5)).
- Maintain a record of scrap received and the quantity recycled, not recycled or disposed of, and upload it on the portal on a regular basis (55(6)).
- Send fractions that cannot be recycled in its facility to other registered recyclers where they can be recycled (55(7)).
Rule 56: bulk consumers
A bulk consumer, an entity using at least one thousand tons of Schedule X products at any point of time in a financial year, must set up collection points so that collection agents can collect and transport scrap from its premises (56(1)), and must hand scrap over only to registered recyclers, refurbishers, producers or collection agents (56(2)).
Rules 57 to 59: the CPCB, the States and the BIS
| Authority | Duties as printed |
|---|---|
| CPCB (57) | Run and maintain the portal and monitor EPR compliance; coordinate with State Boards; issue Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for registration, certificates, returns and the handling of scrap; prepare forms; conduct random checks; act against violations; run training and awareness programmes; submit an annual report to the Central Government |
| State and Union territory industry departments (58(1)) | Earmark industrial space or sheds for scrap collection and recycling units in existing and new industrial parks, estates and clusters; recognise and register recycling workers; skill development; annual monitoring of workers' safety and health |
| Municipalities and local bodies (58(2)) | Facilitate many collection points; segregate scrap found mixed with municipal solid waste and channel it to registered entities; train urban local body staff; collect orphan-product scrap and channel it to a registered recycler |
| State Boards and Committees (58(3)) | Implement the Rules with the CPCB; facilitate collection points; monitor EPR compliance as the CPCB directs; random inspections; awareness |
| BIS (59) | Revise existing standards and issue necessary standards within six months of commencement of the 2025 Amendment Rules |
Who is affected and what to do first
A manufacturer of aluminium doors and windows, a brand owner selling copper wire under its own label, a scrap dealer and a melting unit are all caught, in different roles. The first task is to identify which role or roles apply, because an entity in more than one category registers separately under each. The second is to build the calendar of returns, since the dates in rules 51 to 55 are fixed: 31 October for the half-yearly return and 30 June for the annual return.
Example
Shree Alloy Fabricators Limited makes aluminium partitions and grills, items listed in Schedule X. As a manufacturer it registers on the portal, collects its cutting scrap and files its half-yearly return by 31 October. When the Schedule XIII percentages begin to apply, it buys recycled aluminium only from a registered recycler (rule 51(6)). A supplier that is not registered cannot supply that recycled content, and a registered entity may not deal with an unregistered one (rule 45(6)). For a product where recycled material would make the item unfit for use, the company asks the CPCB for an exemption on the technical-requirement ground.
Need help with non-ferrous scrap duties?
Duties differ by role, and many businesses hold two or three roles at once. Our compliance advisory team can help you draw up a role-wise obligation and return calendar for your units and group companies.
Key takeaways
- Registration on the portal is the entry ticket for manufacturers, producers, collection agents, refurbishers and recyclers.
- Half-yearly returns fall on or before 31 October and annual returns on or before 30 June following the financial year.
- Manufacturers must use recycled content under Schedule XIII, bought from registered recyclers only, with a case-by-case CPCB exemption.
- Bulk consumers must set up collection points and hand scrap only to registered entities.
- The CPCB, State authorities and the BIS have their own duties in rules 57 to 59.
Read next
- Rules 44 to 50: registration, targets and certificates
- Rules 60 to 64: compensation, penalty, audit and Steering Committee
- Rules 31 to 38: used oil duties
- Licenses and registrations required for a waste management company
Disclaimer: Based on the environment rules, guidelines and notifications named above as published in the Gazette of India, read with every amendment notified up to 3 October 2026 that the article names (consolidated reading texts from the CPCB 2021 compilation and the Goa State Pollution Control Board 2025 compilation were checked against the amending notifications), as consulted on 3 October 2026. Later amendments, CPCB guidelines, State Board orders and fees should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.