“Electronic and Electrical waste, collection and management of which remains a key challenge, is one of the rich sources of secondary raw materials and can contribute towards resource security and environmental sustainability for India” –ALN Rao, Director, MRAI & CEO of Exigo Recycling Pvt. Ltd.

India is the third largest producer of e-waste after China and the US. More than 95% of this waste is handled by the informal sector. Electronic waste (e-waste) is a global challenge and India too is facing the problem due to rapid use and fast disposal of the electronic gadgets.

According to a Central Pollution Control Board latest report available for 2019-20, India generated above one million tonnes of e-waste for 21 types of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).

Such e-waste stream contains diverse materials including hazardous substances such as lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), mercury, etc. and valuable substances such as iron, steel, copper, aluminium and plastics. These require special treatment and cannot be dumped in landfills.

Shortly, there will be an announcement of E-waste Management Rules 2022 which may offer  solutions to current issues of India’s E-waste Recycling Industry such as Creating Recycling Systems that enable environmental friendly recycling, recovery of critical materials; ecosystem of secondary material buyers; harmonized tax structures; strong enforcement, setting up norms for use of recycled material for new products, encourage traceability of secondary Raw materials; financial incentives/tax breaks for use of secondary materials etc..

MRAI is organising an exclusive session on “E-Waste: Time to Synergize” at 9^th IMRC conference scheduled on 6^th MAY, 2022. MRAI is bringing together key policymakers from MEITY, PMO, MoEF&CC, CPCB, C-MET, NML and CIPET along with high profile dignitaries from GIZ, IFC, Circulate Capital, Avendus Capital, GEF capital etc.

It will be a good platform for all stakeholders to get sensitised of the upcoming new rules and also be introduced to latest technological breakthroughs and investment opportunities in this industry.

Recycling of EV Batteries in India: Opportunities and Challenges

“The potential for recovering critical metals and minerals like cobalt, lithium, nickel, and manganese from used and discarded Li-ion batteries is going to play a significant role to make India self-sustainable in LIB sector” ALN Rao, Director, MRAI & CEO of Exigo Recycling Pvt. Ltd.

One of the biggest challenges for us today is achieving a “CLEAN ENVIRONMENT”. Ensuring a clean and carbon free environment is a very high priority and a topmost challenge we face in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rare earth metals or elements of critical reserves are crucial to a clean-tech-driven economy and society.

Recycling, recovery and secondary applications of LIBs through circular economy framework will not only provide prudent management of scarce resources and help utilize the LIB raw materials to their maximum, but it will also save the environment – both from environmental disruption from mining of resources and waste ending up in landfills, reduce CO2 emissions, overall carbon footprint and associated ecological imbalances.

To become self-sustainable, it is important to be self-reliant while using the indigenous resources more effectively and efficiently.

In this context, the potential for recovering critical metals and minerals like cobalt, lithium, nickel, and manganese from used and discarded Li-ion batteries is going to play a significant role to make India self-sustainable in the LIB sector.

The Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 and the draft battery swapping policy will provide a clear direction for all stakeholders going forward in making India truly Atma Nirbhar Bharat.