As India prepares for the Bharat Recycling Show 2025, Media Fusion and Crain Communications successfully hosted the second edition of their pre-event roundtable series on June 27 in New Delhi. The session brought together leading experts and stakeholders from across the country to deliberate on two urgent concerns in the recycling ecosystem—E-scrap and End-of-Life Battery Management.
A Platform for Urgent Conversations
The roundtable provided a much-needed platform to explore government initiatives, policy implementation gaps, EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) frameworks, and the ground-level challenges hindering the safe and sustainable disposal of e-waste and used batteries.
The high-impact session featured a diverse panel, including:
*L. Pugazhenthy, India Lead Zinc Development Association
*Satish Sinha, Toxics Link
*Sanjeev Srivastava, NAMO eWaste
*Ashok Kumar Thanikonda, Global Green Growth Institute
*Rakesh Mallick, E-Waste Recyclers India
*Gautam Mehra, OpenGate Global Enterprises
*Akshit Jain, Recyclify
*Preeti Tiwari, Landbell GreenForest Solutions
*Pallas Chandel, GIZ
*Mitradev Sahoo, WRI India
Arvind Sharma, Ministry of Corporate Affairs
*Kuldeep Bartariya, Shreeji Academy / Ministry of Education
Growing Waste, Glaring Gaps
The panel agreed that India’s rapid growth in digital infrastructure, electric mobility, and consumer electronics has triggered a sharp rise in e-waste and battery waste.
Regulatory Frameworks Exist, but Enforcement Lags
Satish Sinha of Toxics Link reinforced this concern, stating, “India has well-framed rules, but their lack of enforcement, weak penalties, and limited monitoring continue to fuel non-compliance.” He criticized the way government auctions often end up in the hands of informal or intermediary players, bypassing formal recyclers.
The industry is responding to a high-stakes scenario. India is the third-largest generator of e-waste globally, contributing nearly 10% of the global total. In 2024, India’s e-waste management market was valued at USD 2.96 billion, and it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.07% to reach $8.92 billion by 2033. Rapid urbanisation, growing consumption, and rising awareness are fuelling demand for reliable waste processing systems.
EPR Needs Deeper Roots
Preeti Tiwari of Landbell GreenForest Solutions highlighted the potential of the 2022 Battery Waste Management Rules and the EPR regime. “A clear reverse logistics system, strong monitoring, and proactive participation from producers are essential for EPR to succeed,” she said.
Gautam Mehra from OpenGate Global emphasized the technical complexity of battery recycling. “Hazardous components, lack of dismantling infrastructure, and absence of transparent collection systems make responsible recycling extremely challenging,” he explained.
Informal Sector Holds the Missing Data
Adding a global perspective, Mitradev Sahoo (WRI India) and Ashok Kumar Thanikonda (GGGI) shared best practices from international recycling frameworks, emphasizing the role of real-time data in driving policy efficiency.
Inclusion and Infrastructure for Rural Areas
Pallas Chandel of GIZ raised a critical issue often overlooked—the exclusion of rural and peri-urban regions. “Without infrastructure, these regions resort to burning electronic waste, causing serious air and water pollution,” she said. She advocated for decentralised collection models, targeted training, and extending EPR schemes to non-urban India.
Financial Incentives Can Spur Formalisation
Sanjeev Srivastava of NAMO eWaste highlighted the lack of financial incentives as a major bottleneck.
Key Takeaways and Industry Demands
The session concluded with a clear consensus: India needs a holistic, enforceable recycling strategy that bridges the gap between regulation and infrastructure. The panel called for:
*Stronger enforcement and monitoring mechanisms
*Mandatory traceability of waste flows
*Integration of the informal sector into formal frameworks
*Minimum pricing mandates to curb undercutting
*Greater public education and awareness
Setting the Stage for Bharat Recycling Show 2025
These discussions set the tone for the upcoming Bharat Recycling Show 2025, scheduled for 13–15 November at Hall 6, NESCO Exhibition Center, Mumbai. As per the press release, with a focused commodity showcase and high-level dialogues, the event aims to accelerate India’s journey toward a robust, transparent, and sustainable recycling ecosystem.
