EPR Registration for Tyre Waste in India: Compliance Guide for Manufacturers & Importers
India is the third-largest tyre market in the world, and the regulatory framework for tyre waste management has been significantly strengthened. Tyre manufacturers, brand owners, importers of new tyres, importers of vehicles fitted with new tyres and importers of waste tyres must register under India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for waste tyres and meet annual EPR obligations — failing to do so attracts environmental compensation and, in serious cases, prosecution.
Whether you import passenger car tyres, truck and bus radials (TBR), two-wheeler tyres, or off-road tyres, this compliance obligation applies to you. This guide explains the tyre waste EPR framework under India’s environmental laws, the registration process, and what you need to do to maintain annual compliance.
1. Regulatory Framework: Tyre Waste in India
Tyre waste EPR in India is governed by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and specifically implemented through the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, as amended. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified tyres as a waste category requiring EPR obligations for producers, importers, and brand owners.
EPR for waste tyres was introduced as Schedule IX of these Rules by the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2022 (G.S.R. 593(E), 21 July 2022). Producers and recyclers register on CPCB’s centralised EPR portal, and producers meet their obligation by buying EPR certificates from registered recyclers.
2. Who Must Register for Tyre Waste EPR?
- Producers: Manufacturers of new tyres (passenger, commercial, two-wheeler, OTR)
- Importers: Any entity importing new or retreaded tyres into India
- Brand owners: Companies under whose brand tyres are sold in India
- Vehicle importers and manufacturers: entities importing vehicles fitted with new tyres, or vehicle makers importing new tyres for vehicles sold in India
- Importers of waste tyres — with an obligation of 100% of the waste tyres imported in the previous year
Recyclers and retreaders register with CPCB in their own categories. Note that importers of vehicles fitted with new tyres are expressly covered as producers under Schedule IX.
For retreaded tyres, the EPR obligation is deferred by one year.
3. Tyre Categories Covered
| Tyre Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Passenger car tyres (PCR) | Tyres for cars, SUVs, vans — standard road use |
| Truck and bus radials (TBR) | Commercial vehicle tyres for heavy transport |
| Two-wheeler and three-wheeler tyres | Motorbike, scooter, auto-rickshaw tyres |
| Off-road tyres (OTR) | Agricultural, mining, construction vehicle tyres |
| Industrial tyres | Forklift, material handling equipment tyres |
| Retreaded tyres | Tyres that have undergone retreading process |
4. Annual EPR Obligations for Tyre Producers
Schedule IX sets the obligation as a share of the new tyres a producer manufactured or imported two years earlier (Y−2), measured by weight:
| Obligation Year | EPR Obligation |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 35% of new tyres manufactured or imported in 2020–21 |
| 2023–24 | 70% of new tyres manufactured or imported in 2021–22 |
| 2024–25 onwards | 100% of new tyres manufactured or imported in year Y−2 |
| Waste tyre importers | 100% of waste tyres imported in the previous year (Y−1) |
| New units set up after 1 April 2022 | Obligation starts after two years |
5. How the Obligation Is Met: Recycling End-Products
Producers do not collect tyres themselves. They buy EPR certificates generated on the CPCB portal by registered recyclers, based on what those recyclers produce from waste tyres:
- Reclaimed rubber
- Crumb rubber
- Crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRMB)
- Recovered carbon black (usable as raw material for new tyres)
- Pyrolysis oil or char — counted only when used as fuel, not as raw material for new tyres
Certificates from unregistered recyclers or informal scrap dealers do not count. CPCB’s 2024 guidelines on waste tyre management add further conditions on recyclers, so always buy certificates through the portal.
6. Documents Required for CPCB EPR Registration
- Company incorporation certificate
- GST registration and PAN
- IEC for importers
- Details of tyres placed on market — categories, quantities, brand names
- Authorised signatory details and KYC
- Board resolution authorising signatory
- Details of any existing environmental clearances or consents
7. Step-by-Step EPR Registration Process
- Register on the CPCB EPR portal as a tyre producer/importer
- Complete the application form with entity and product details
- Submit documents and pay registration fee
- CPCB reviews and issues EPR authorisation (15–30 working days typical)
- Identify and empanel CPCB-registered tyre waste processors/channelisers
- Execute agreements with waste processors for collection and processing
- Buy EPR certificates from CPCB-registered recyclers and file quarterly returns on the portal
- Maintain records for 5 years for regulatory audit readiness
8. Non-Compliance Consequences
- Environmental Compensation (EC) charges for shortfall in channelization targets
- Suspension of EPR authorisation for repeated shortfalls
- Potential CPCB enforcement action under the Environment Protection Act
- E-commerce platforms and major retail chains increasingly requiring EPR compliance proof from tyre suppliers
- Prosecution for giving false information to obtain EPR certificates or for wilful violation of Schedule IX
Need Expert Assistance? Contact PCN India Global
India’s regulatory compliance landscape is complex, multi-agency, and constantly evolving. Missing a certification, filing deadline, or document requirement can result in customs holds, product seizures, and significant financial loss. PCN India Global provides complete end-to-end support — from first-mile regulatory mapping through to certificate issuance, with experienced consultants managing every government touchpoint on your behalf.
We specialise in:
- EPR Registration for Tyre Waste (CPCB portal application)
- EPR Registration for E-Waste, Battery Waste, and Plastic Waste
- Annual EPR return filing and channelization documentation
- BIS ISI Mark certification for tyre manufacturers under applicable QCOs
- LMPC compliance for tyre packaging and labelling
📞 Phone: 08010905029 | ✉ Email: bdm@pcnindiaglobal.com | 🌐 pcnindiaglobal.com
Your first compliance consultation is free. Reach out today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: I import only a small number of tyres for personal use or small-scale testing. Do I need EPR registration?
The EPR registration requirement does not have a small-volume exemption. All commercial importers of tyres must register. However, your annual channelization target will be proportional to your actual import volume, so the practical obligation scales with your business size.
Q2: Are retreaded tyres subject to the same EPR obligations as new tyres?
Retreaders and recyclers register with CPCB in their own categories. For retreaded tyres, Schedule IX defers the EPR obligation by one year.
Q3: Who counts as a ‘channelisation partner’ for tyre EPR?
Only recyclers registered with CPCB can generate valid EPR certificates — for reclaimed rubber, crumb rubber, CRMB, recovered carbon black, or pyrolysis oil/char used as fuel. Using unregistered collectors or informal scrap dealers does not fulfil your EPR obligation.
Q4: I also have EPR obligations for battery waste and plastic packaging. Can I handle all registrations together?
Yes. PCN India Global regularly manages multi-stream EPR registrations — tyre, battery, plastic, and e-waste — under a single engagement for clients with diverse product portfolios. This ensures coordinated timelines and no missed deadlines.
Q5: When are tyre EPR returns due?
Under Schedule IX, producers file quarterly returns on the CPCB EPR portal with the EPR certificates purchased against their obligation. Check the portal for current due dates, as CPCB sometimes extends them.
Q6: What is Environmental Compensation, and how much could I owe?
Environmental Compensation (EC) is a levy charged by CPCB on producers who fail to meet annual channelization targets. The rate is set by CPCB and applied to the shortfall in tonnage. EC rates are designed to be punitive — typically exceeding the cost of proper compliance — to incentivise genuine channelization.
Related Compliance Guides
Related Guides
- EPR Registration for Used Oil in India
- EPR Registration for Plastic Waste in India
- EPR Registration for E-Waste in India
- EPR Registration for Battery Waste in India
Need expert help? See our EPR registration for e-waste.
