Framework likely to address waste recycling

New Delhi: Feedstock availability for the critical mineral recycling scheme will be addressed through formalisation of collection under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework, the Union mines ministry said on Thursday. In an emailed response to ET, the ministry highlighted that integration of waste into the recycling ecosystem would boost prospects for local critical mineral recyclers.The domestic industry has raised concerns that informal feedstock collection, technology and skill gap, and cap on incentives could pose challenges in the implementation of the ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme for critical mineral recycling. The scheme was approved in September and the application process started this month. "Under the EPR framework, e-waste and battery waste management rules obligate extraction of specified end-products," the ministry said, adding that the capacity to process black mass is limited in the country, due to which it is being exported without extracting valuable critical minerals.The Centre expects incentives under the scheme to bring in more recyclers, especially upstream entities such as dismantlers, crushers and shredders into the formal system. "Many private recycling companies are already running scrap collection systems efficiently," the ministry said. E-waste, spent lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and catalytic converters in end-of-life vehicles are categorised among feedstock under the scheme.The annual generation of e-waste in the country is estimated at 1.75 million tonnes, and of spent LIBs at about 60 kilotonnes. "Customs duty elimination in tariff lines of LIB scrap implemented through Union budget 2025-26 will facilitate imports. Over next 4-5 years, the availability of these waste products is going to increase manifold," the ministry said, adding that it does not envisage any problems in the sourcing of feedstock for recycling under the scheme.Commenting on the concerns over the cap on sops, the ministry said the limit was aimed at ensuring wider participation, enlisting a greater number of beneficiaries. The total incentive has been capped at ₹50 crore for big recyclers and ₹25 crore for small recyclers.

from Economic Times https://ift.tt/e8yU1q3
via IFTTT