Beyond Compliance: Producer Responsibility Organisations, Climate Governance, and Legal Reform in India’s E-Waste Framework: A Case Study of Ye Prayas

The rapid growth of electronic waste (e-waste) has heightened concerns about resource depletion, environmental degradation, and climate change, especially in low-income nations where regulatory enforcement is inconsistent. While India has embraced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as the foundation of its e-waste governance system, little attention has been paid to the evolving role of Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) in advancing circular economy and climate goals. This paper investigates the role of PROs as innovation-oriented governance entities rather than simply as compliance middlemen. This study used a qualitative single-case study design to examine Ye Prayas, a registered Producer Responsibility Organisation in India. Empirical data were gathered through a semi-structured expert interview and analysed alongside the E-Waste (Management) Rules of 2016 and 2022, CPCB guidance documents, and other policy materials, using the EPR–Circular Economy PRO Model.The study argues that India’s EPR framework remains constrained by a compliance-oriented regulatory logic and proposes legal reforms that explicitly recognise PROs, institutionalise digital traceability, incorporate carbon accountability, and enable inclusive circular-economy transformations.