Experts stress need to bridge regulatory gaps for safe e-waste recycling in India

Experts from across the country, who gathered here for a roundtable, have stressed the urgent need to bridge regulatory and infrastructure gaps to ensure safe, traceable, and sustainable battery and e-waste recycling in India.

While India’s e-waste management market is projected to grow robustly from USD 2.96 billion in 2024 to USD 8.92 billion by 2033 (a CAGR of 12.07 per cent), there was a consensus at the roundtable on the deficiency of the current systems in collection traceability, and environmentally sound disposal.

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They unanimously called for stronger rule enforcement, real-time traceability, and integration of the informal sector into formal systems. Recommendations included mandatory audits, enforcement of minimum pricing to curb undercutting, and greater public awareness campaigns.

The roundtable that preceded the Bharat Recycling Show 2025 was held to discuss critical issues in the recycling ecosystem.

It further highlighted that India stands as the third-largest producer of e-waste globally, contributing nearly 10 per cent of the world’s total output.

The Bharat Recycling Show 2025 that will be held in Mumbai from November 13-15 aims to accelerate India’s recycling ecosystem and drive long-term industry transformation through focused commodity showcases and high-level discussions.

The roundtable that, organised by Media Fusion and Crain Communications, served as a vital platform for discussion on government initiatives, policy implementation, EPR regulations, and the practical challenges surrounding the safe and sustainable management of e-waste and used batteries.

According to L Pugazhenthy, Executive Director of the India Lead Zinc Development Association, who took part in the roundtable, raised concerns over the “fragmented and largely unregulated collection of batteries”.

“While lead-acid batteries used in vehicles and inverters are relatively traceable, dry cells, button cells, and lithium-ion batteries often end up in informal scrap channels or are improperly discarded. Weak enforcement of battery waste regulations and poor compliance by smaller manufacturers further contribute to large-scale environmental leakage,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sanjeev Srivastava, CEO, NAMO eWaste, said, “The absence of financial incentives continues to be a major constraint for India’s recycling sector. Introducing targeted support for formal players can serve as a catalyst, encouraging more start-ups and MSMEs to adopt advanced technologies for critical mineral extraction. This, in turn, will pave the way for improved infrastructure, higher compliance, and a more robust circular economy.”