Page 47 - Plastics News July 2020

PRESS RELEASE

NITI Aayog calls for a separate ministry for Material Recycling Industry; Favours immediate
implementation of material recycling policy
Ÿ Material Recycling industry seeks immediate The industry members also advocated for policies for
industry status to cope up with the COVID – 19 plastics, paper and e-waste, as a 'circular economy'.
aftermath ~ They further asserted that the demand for recyclable
material /granules in the market can be boosted up by
Ÿ Targets 50% growth in recycling material in next five
years; presses for implementation of recycling creating demand for the products they make, such as
policy ~ railway, factories, malls, schools, offices, etc., which
can conveniently use fixtures, furniture, etc. made from
Mumbai, July 15, 2020: Responding to the ongoing recycled products.
demand of the material recycling industry comprising of
metal, plastic, paper, tyre and e-waste, Mr Amitabh Mr Mehta informed that the material recycling industry
Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog hinted to set up a separate nodal has been grappling with the COVID – 19 aftermath due to
ministry for Indian material recycling industry for better logistics and labour constraints. For instance, the paper
recycling industry has been operating at just 15 per cent
regulation and growth.
capacity utilization.
Addressing the Webinar 'Policy Support for Material
Among the industry verticals heads from metal, plastic,
Recycling Industry to Become AtmaNirbhar' organised by
Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI), Mr Kant paper and e-waste raised their demands with following
advocated the need for a nodal ministry for material key points:
recycling industry and favoured immediate Mr.Dhawal Shah, Vice President, MRAI Board and MD of
implementation of material recycling policy and Metco Marketing highlighted the Indian secondary metal
granting it the industry status. industries pertinent issues needed Niti Aayog support are
as :
He said, “The nodal ministry to govern the material
recycling industry should not be a regulatory ministry, as Ÿ Industry Status to the Recycling Industry
the policy is critical to push the growth and prospects of
Ÿ Forming specially designated zones/areas for
the industry. It being a developmental work, the Recycling on outskirts of each major city
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion would be
better placed to have this. Implementation of the policy Ÿ Early Implementation of Material Recycling policy
and granting the industry status would make it will help the country to become "AtmaNirbhar" by
'Atmanirbhar'; besides creating more employment creating more employments, increasing
opportunities.” environmental and social benefits.
Mr Kant also pressed the need to form and constitute Ms.Ekta Narain, Executive Committee Member of MRAI
designated material recycling zones on the outskirts of Plastic Recycling and Director – Business Development,
each city in India and this should be compulsory. He also Recykal presented the key challenging issues of Plastic
informed that the NITI Aayog will consult with the Recycling Industry which required Niti Aayog support for
Government on these urgent needs and also take actions the policy initiative are as :
to bring an unorganised sector into organised one with a Ÿ To support the Plastic Recycling and ensure the
required regulatory framework. same do not end up in landfills use of PCR to the
Meanwhile, Mr Sanjay Mehta, President of MRAI extent of 25% should be mandated in all type of
appealed the NITI Aayog to consult with the Government Plastics manufacturing across the board..
to immediately implement the material recycling policy Ÿ NITI Aayog may like to consider Material Recycling
to make the sector 'Atmanirbhar' and work as a booster policy for use of PCR in all the plastic products
to restore operations that were crippled due to the manufactured in the country.
lockdown.
Ÿ Reduction in Import duty on Imports of new
He demanded that the material recycling industry technology and machineries until it is produced in
needed to be classified under 'Essential Commodities' India.
like it existed in other advanced countries. He said, “If
the policy is implemented soon, the industry can create Ÿ Plastic Recycling Industry should be considered
under Green Category as per CPCB Classification.
3 million direct jobs by 2025. Like China, India too needs
a policy for duty free imports of metal scrap.” He While presenting the Paper Recycling challenges,
mentioned that the industry can target 50% growth in Mr. Lalit Garg, Chairman, MRAI Paper Recycling
recycling material in next five years, if the policy is Committee suggested the following points :
implemented very soon.
Ÿ Early Implementation of Import Monitoring system

July 2020 47 Plastics News