The Indian government has unveiled a national portal for recycling non-ferrous metals, including aluminium, copper, lead, and zinc. The launch, held in New Delhi, was officiated by Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy. This initiative aims to enhance sustainability and reduce reliance on imported raw materials.
Image source: coal.gov.in
Aluminium recycling is pivotal due to its energy efficiency and environmental benefits. Recycling aluminium consumes up to 95 per cent less energy than producing primary aluminium, significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this, India's aluminium recycling rate stands at 30-35 per cent, lagging behind the global average of 65-75 per cent.
Historically, India has maintained low import duties on aluminium scrap, currently at 2.5 per cent, to support domestic recycling industries. However, this discourages domestic recycling, promotes finished goods imports, and may push recycling operations abroad, especially as countries like Malaysia and Thailand impose zero duty.
The Ministry of Mines stated that the new portal will collect recycling data and identify sectoral gaps. It also aims to support stakeholders in the ecosystem, such as recyclers, collectors and policymakers. Its goal is to offer insights for data-backed decisions rather than impose immediate regulations.
The government has not yet confirmed whether the portal will lead to new policy changes.
For now, it acts as a step towards better coordination across the non-ferrous metal recycling industry. Further developments are expected as feedback from industry participants is gathered.
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