The e-waste recycling industry in India would require about ₹50,000 crore investment to handle all kinds of waste being generated from the country’s 1.4 billion population, industry officials said.
“The recycling industry in India faces one primary challenge which is the availability of raw materials for formal recycling. While the business is inherently viable and sustainable, its growth depends on consistent material supply, effective policy implementation, and regulatory clarity,” B.K. Soni, CMD, Eco Recycling, said while speaking at Plastics Recycling Show (PRS) India & Bharat Recycling Show (BRS) 2025 being held in Mumbai.
“Today, only about 5% of the e-waste is being recycled in India, supported by an estimated investment of ₹2,500 crore. To achieve full-scale recycling, the sector would require close to ₹50,000 crore which presents an enormous investment opportunity,” he added.
Siddhesh Kadam, Chairman, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, said, “Recycling represents the future and forms the foundation of a truly circular economy. The visible effects of climate change, from shifting rainfall patterns to shorter monsoons and rising temperatures, highlight the urgency for sustainable action.”
Besides recycling, efforts must be made to encourage innovation, turning waste into a valuable resource, he added.
Sanjay Mehta, President, Material Recycling Association of India, said while India has made significant progress in recycling areas such as e-waste, tyres, and metals, the plastic industry continues to face major challenges and requires stronger advocacy.
“Our foremost agenda is to compile accurate and comprehensive data on plastic scrap recycling in India, including the quantities collected, sent to landfills, and effectively recycled,” he said.
“We aim to ensure that within the next 1-1/2 years, this verified data will be made available to the public and the government to help organise and strengthen the plastic recycling sector,” he added.
Pawandeep Singh, Vice President, Attero Recycling, while emphasising on the role of indigenous technology and supportive policies to achieve the goals said, “India’s recycling ecosystem is rapidly evolving, driven by indigenous innovations and strong policy support.”
“We, India’s largest e-waste and lithium-ion battery recycler, have developed end-to-end recycling solutions backed by 47 granted patents and over 200 in process,” he said. “ Our facilities in Uttarakhand handle 1,44,000 tons of e-waste and 10,000 tons of lithium-ion batteries annually, producing low-carbon green metals approved by the UNFCCC for carbon credits,” he said.
He said government’s new initiatives, including PLI Schemes and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation across e-waste, lithium-ion, and future non-ferrous metals (by 2026), signal a decisive step toward resource security and circularity.
Taher Patrawala, Managing Director, Media Fusion, the organisers of the industry event said, “Urban infrastructure investments and public–private partnerships are further boosting India’s recycling capacity — already at over 2,447 plants as of 2024. As technologies in mechanical and chemical recycling evolve, trade shoes would drive meaningful collaborations that foster efficiency, value creation, and long-term sustainability.”
Published – November 13, 2025 11:02 pm IST
