Plastics Recycling Show India, in association with Waste & Recycling magazine, organised a round table discussion on Creating a Circular Economy for Plastics: Challenges and Opportunities in India in New Delhi on July 5. This is the third in the series of round tables organised in the run up to the PRSI show in Mumbai in December 2024. The platform is aimed at bringing the stakeholders of the plastics recycling industry together for an open discussion on the barriers and breakthroughs in the sector. As many as 15 participants including industry leaders, NGOs, development agencies, consultants and other environmental professionals actively engaged in an hour-long deliberation on the subject. 

The expert panel included Deepanshi Gandherva, Business Development Officer, Indian Pollution Control Association, Shailendra Singh, Founder, SustainMantra, Kamran Ahmed, Founder - Director, Envofix International, Prashant Singh CEO, Blue Planet Environmental Solutions, Vidya Bhooshan Singh, Plastic Waste Expert in USAID supported in REPLACE project at IPE GLOBAL, Vaibhav Rathi Advisor, GIZ India, Rajesh Pahwa, Founder, 21st Century Polymers, Manoj Gupta, Lead Sustainability, Plastics Experts, Paras Guptaa, Sustainability Head, Gem Environment, Aditya Pareek, Head of Business Development, Race Eco Chain Ltd., Yash Sharma, Director, Ganesha Ecosphere, Makarand Kulkarni, CEO, Revalyu Recycling (India) Limited, Indumathi, Operator of Ward 150, Dry Waste Collection Centre(DWCC), Bellandur in Bangalore, Rakesh Bhatt, Director of Operations, Ecube India 3R and Akbar A, Director for Program Design at Hasiru Dala. 

The panelists highlighted several key factors fueling the growth of the plastic recycling industry in India. They shared their thoughts on the implementation and execution of regulatory frameworks, such as the Plastic Waste Management Rules of 2016, the ban on single-use plastics and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme in the country.  When speaking about the mismanagement of plastic waste in urban and rural regions, they stressed the need for decentralised waste management system, efficient infrastructure and creating awareness among the public and businesses on the recyclability of plastics materials. They called for the development of an efficient waste collection system to prevent plastics pollution. The complexity of recycling of multi-layered plastics packaging and other difficult-to-recycle materials were discussed. The challenges in integrating the informal sector, which consists of waste pickers and small-scale recyclers, formed a significant part of the discussion, with representations and suggestions coming from an organisation working with the informal sector and a former waste picker. The need for financial investments and incentives, robust recycling infrastructure and support for technological developments were also discussed.  The session was moderated by R. Keerthana, Editor, Waste & Recycling magazine. 

Plastic Recycling Show India 2024

The roundtable discussion also served as a platform to introduce the first edition of the Plastic Recycling Show (PRS) India, scheduled to be held in Mumbai from December 4 to 6, 2024. Organised by Crain Communications and Media Fusion, PRS India is the latest extension of the successful Plastics Recycling Show brand, which includes PRS Europe, PRS Middle East & Africa, and PRS Asia. 

The Plastics Recycling Awards India will also be organised as part of the Show. It will recognise and celebrate achievements throughout the scope of the Indian plastics recycling industry in the following categories: Recycled Plastic Product, Recycled Plastic Packaging Product, Plastics Recycling Company, Plastics Recycling Ambassador, Best Community Effort for Recycling and Technology and Innovation. The nominations are open.