Under Schedule III of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, a producer's recycling target is a percentage of the equipment it placed on the market one average product life earlier, not of current sales. The percentage is 60% for 2023-24 and 2024-25, 70% for 2025-26 and 2026-27, and 80% from 2027-28. Newer producers whose years of sales are fewer than their product life follow Schedule IV instead. Verify the current schedule before relying on any figure.
📑 Table of Contents
Introduction
EPR targets turn the abstract idea of producer responsibility into a number of kilograms you must recycle each year. Getting the calculation right matters, because it drives how many EPR certificates you need and how you report on the CPCB portal.
This guide supports our pillar page on e-waste EPR registration in India. It explains the logic of the targets. Your own figure depends on your sales records and CPCB's product life values.
Please note: Rego Services is a private regulatory consultancy. We are not a government body and are not an authorised representative of CPCB or MoEFCC.
Schedule III Targets
Schedule III sets the recycling target, by weight, as a share of the quantity of equipment placed on the market in year Y minus X, where Y is the compliance year and X is the average life of that product.
| Compliance year | Recycling target (by weight) |
|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 60% |
| 2024-25 | 60% |
| 2025-26 | 70% |
| 2026-27 | 70% |
| 2027-28 | 80% |
| 2028-29 onwards | 80% |
Compiled October 2026 from the Rules as summarised by CPCB and secondary sources. CPCB's own FAQ confirms the 60% figure for 2023-24 and 2024-25. Some older summaries and draft versions of the Rules show different percentages, so use the notified Schedule III.
Verify before relying: check Schedule III in the official gazette notification and any later amendment on the MoEFCC website.
How the Obligation Is Calculated
1. The target looks backwards
Equipment sold today becomes e-waste after its useful life, so your obligation is tied to what you sold roughly one product life ago.
2. Product life is set by CPCB
The Rules rely on the individual product's life period as laid down by CPCB. The values are not printed in Schedule III, so confirm CPCB's current table for each of your products.
3. It is calculated item by item
Each Schedule I item has its own sales history and life. See products covered under the E-Waste Rules.
4. It depends on your portal data
CPCB decides your obligation from the sales information you submit on the portal, so accurate records are essential.
Worked Example
Illustration only: the product, life and quantities below are hypothetical and are not CPCB values.
| Step | Illustration |
|---|---|
| Compliance year (Y) | 2026-27 |
| Assumed average life (X) | 10 years |
| Sales year used (Y minus X) | 2016-17 |
| Quantity placed on market in 2016-17 | 1,000 tonnes |
| Schedule III percentage for 2026-27 | 70% |
| Illustrative obligation | 700 tonnes |
New Producers and Schedule IV
A producer whose years of sales operations are fewer than the average life of its product has no sales from a full product life ago to use. For such producers the Rules provide Schedule IV, based on recent sales instead:
- 15% of sales in the year two years before, for the early years
- 20% of sales two years before, in later years
Once the years of sales operations equal the product's average life, Schedule III applies. Check the exact years in the notified Schedule IV, as summaries differ on the starting years.
Refurbishing and Deferred Obligations
A producer can use refurbishing certificates to defer part of an obligation. When the extended life of the refurbished product ends, 75% of the deferred quantity is added back to the producer's recycling obligation in the later year. The treatment of refurbishing certificates is set out in the Rules and CPCB guidelines, so confirm the current rules.
Meeting Your Target
Producers meet their obligation by purchasing EPR certificates from registered recyclers through the CPCB portal. See EPR certificates for e-waste compliance, then file returns as described in e-waste EPR annual returns. Shortfalls can attract penalty and compensation consequences under the Rules and CPCB guidelines.
Common Mistakes
1. Using this year's sales as the base
Targets use sales from one product life earlier.
2. Guessing the product life
Use CPCB's published values, not assumptions.
3. Ignoring Schedule IV
New producers follow a different rule until their sales history matches product life.
4. Mismatched sales data
Portal sales data should reconcile with invoices, GST returns and import records.
5. Treating old percentages as current
Draft and earlier versions of the Rules show different targets.
How Rego Services Can Help
Rego Services is an Indian regulatory affairs consultancy working across BIS, CDSCO, BEE, EPR, TEC and WPC. For e-waste EPR, we assist with:
- Working out which schedule applies to each product
- Reviewing sales data submitted for target calculation
- Planning certificate purchases against your obligation
- Portal filings and returns
We do not guarantee outcomes or approvals. To discuss your case, contact Rego Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the e-waste EPR target for 2026-27?
Schedule III sets 70 percent by weight for 2026-27, applied to the quantity of equipment placed on the market one average product life earlier.
2. Is the target a percentage of this year's sales?
No. For established producers it is a percentage of sales from Y minus X, where Y is the compliance year and X is the average life of the product.
3. Who sets the average life of a product?
Product life periods are laid down by CPCB, so check CPCB's current published values for your products.
4. What targets apply to new producers?
Producers whose years of sales are fewer than their product's average life fall under Schedule IV, with targets of 15 percent and then 20 percent of sales, until Schedule III applies.
Official References
Reviewed by the Rego Services Compliance Team | Last Updated: October 2026 | Sources: E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 and CPCB FAQ
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Targets and product life values may change. Verify current official requirements for your products.