Material Recycling the voice of India Recycling Industry April-May-2020
The new plastic waste management rules 2016, amended in 2018, roll the ball for all concerned to step forward towards their EPR and CSR responsibilities. As the system sets its pace, a lot more clarity, understanding and streamlining would follow, bringing India too in line with global practices.
A big fear or threat amongst the plastic fraternity is, if the targets are not met, the public or the government or even NGOs could choose not use plastics and may come out with a solution that the industry likes the least!
Actually, such a thrust provides the plastic industry a huge opportunity to shape their own future. Circular economy is going to be the zing thing; today’s buzz word in the global field of plastics. An era to demonstrate, plastics can be circular by its economical reuse in production, replacing the virgin feedstock. It is going to be a game-changer; a paradigm shift in the mindset of the plastic industry.
If taken in a positive stride, the results ought to show a strong demand from the plastic processors and converters for producing good quality recyclates.
A decade or two ago no rag pickers or kabadiwalas were interested in collecting PET bottles, purely because they found no resale value for it. Today, special attention is given to PET amongst the post-consumer plastic waste segment and recycling is being carried out professionally across the country. No wonder, PET bottles have become the most valuable stream fetching a good return for all the stakeholders.
