5 Signs Your E-Waste Vendor is Not KSPCB Compliant

Most companies that use e-waste disposal services believe their vendor is compliant. Most are wrong.

In the greater Kochi area, there are fewer than 15 KSPCB-authorized e-waste recyclers operating — out of hundreds of “e-waste dealers,” “computer scrap buyers,” and “IT asset buyers” that appear on JustDial, Google Maps, Sulekha, and OLX.

The difference matters legally. Under Rule 13 of E-Waste Rules 2022, the liability for non-compliant disposal falls on the bulk consumer (your company), not just the vendor. “We didn’t know they weren’t authorized” is not a legal defence.

These 5 signs help you identify non-compliant vendors before your next disposal.

Sign 1: They Cannot Produce a KSPCB Authorization Number

This is the clearest indicator. Every KSPCB-authorized e-waste recycler is issued an authorization number in the format KL/EW/[number]. The number appears on their authorization certificate and should appear on every manifest and certificate they issue.

Ask directly: “What is your KSPCB e-waste recycler authorization number?”

A compliant vendor responds immediately. An unauthorized vendor will:

  • Say they’re “in the process” of getting authorization
  • Produce a different type of registration (GST, Shops and Establishments, MSME) and claim it’s “the same”
  • Say they work “with” an authorized facility (but this doesn’t transfer compliance to you)
  • Become evasive or change the subject

If they can’t state a KL/EW/XXX number within 30 seconds, stop the engagement.

Sign 2: The Certificate They Provide Has No Authorization Reference

Many informal dealers provide some form of receipt or “certificate.” Non-compliant certificates:

  • Are printed on letterhead without a KSPCB authorization number
  • Use vague language like “received for disposal” or “recycled as per norms” without specifying which norms
  • Do not reference any government authorization
  • Are not traceable to any CPCB portal entry

A valid KSPCB-compliant document includes:

  • Recycler’s KSPCB Authorization Number (KL/EW/XXX)
  • Device categories covered under that authorization
  • Signature of authorized representative
  • Reference number traceable to Form-6 / CPCB portal

If the certificate doesn’t reference a KL/EW/XXX number, it has no legal standing under E-Waste Rules 2022.

Sign 3: They Offer “Certificates” But No Form-6 Manifests

E-Waste Management Rules 2022 require a Form-6 manifest for every transfer of e-waste. The Form-6 is a specific format — not a general letter.

A compliant recycler knows what Form-6 is and generates it automatically. An unauthorized vendor either:

  • Has never heard of Form-6 and refers to it by a different name
  • Offers a “delivery receipt” or “weighbridge slip” and calls it the same thing
  • Promises to provide it later and never does

Form-6 is not optional. Without it, your KSPCB audit file is incomplete regardless of what other documents the vendor provides.

Sign 4: They Don’t Ask for Your Company Details

Authorized recyclers must maintain records of who they collected e-waste from. A compliant ITAD vendor will always ask for:

  • Company name and address
  • Contact person details
  • Nature of devices and approximate quantities
  • GST number (for larger commercial transactions)

An informal dealer who picks up equipment without asking for your company details is not generating KSPCB-compliant manifests. The manifest requires your company name as the “bulk consumer” from whom waste was collected. If they don’t ask for your details, they’re not filling in the manifest correctly — or at all.

Sign 5: They Promise “On-the-Spot” Payment Without Assessment

Authorized ITAD vendors assess equipment condition before providing pricing. Informal scrap dealers offer flat “metal weight” prices regardless of functional status.

If a vendor quotes you a price within 5 minutes of hearing “20 laptops” without asking about models, years, working status, or RAM/storage — they’re pricing scrap metal, not IT assets. They’re an informal dealer, not an authorized recycler.

This matters not just for compliance but for value: a working Dell i7 (2022) that a scrap dealer offers ₹4,000 for is worth ₹14,000–₹20,000 to an authorized recycler operating in the secondary IT market.

How to Verify Authorization in 3 Steps

Step 1: Get the authorization number (KL/EW/XXX) from the vendor.

Step 2: Go to kspcb.kerala.gov.in → E-Waste Recyclers list. Search the number. Confirm it’s listed, active, and not expired.

Step 3: Confirm the authorization covers your device categories. Schedule I, Category 1 (IT and Telecom Equipment) should be explicitly listed.

This takes 5 minutes. Not doing it takes 5 minutes. The difference can be a ₹10 crore compliance liability.

EWaste Kochi Verification

  • Authorization Number: KL/EW/628
  • Verifiable at: kspcb.kerala.gov.in → E-Waste Recyclers
  • Covered categories: Schedule I IT Equipment, Consumer Electronics, Storage Media
  • Documents provided: Form-6 Manifest, Certificate of Recycling, Certificate of Data Destruction, DPDP Act Declaration

WhatsApp to verify our authorization and get a compliance quote.