Battery and Plastics Recycling Emerges as Pillar of Atmanirbhar Bharat; Mumbai Expo Brings Industry Together
POSTED BY:- Poonam S. Juthani
DT:-01/01/2026
9867490397
*Mumbai, August 31, 2026:* The future of India’s recycling industry lies not just in scaling up volumes, but in advanced technology, material purity and stronger upstream collection networks, industry leaders said at the opening of a joint expo in Mumbai on Sunday.
The three-day *‘Plastics Recycling Show India 2026’ and ‘Bharat Recycling Show 2026’* commenced at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (NESCO), Mumbai. Organized by *Media Fusion and Crain Communications*, the expo brings together over *150 exhibitors and 250+ brands* showcasing cutting-edge technologies in plastics, metal, e-waste and battery recycling.
Speaking at the inaugural session, *Taher Patrawala, Managing Director, Media Fusion*, said, “This is a decisive step to bring together India’s fragmented resource recovery ecosystem. As regulations get stricter and industries face pressure to adopt sustainable practices, these platforms will bridge technical gaps, attract investment and foster partnerships to move India from a linear waste model to a high-value circular economy.”
*R. V. Sridhar, Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Company*, highlighted the role of technology. “India’s copper demand is projected to reach 3.2 million tonnes by 2030, with 38% currently met from scrap. The biggest opportunity is sensor-based sorting using XRF, LIBS and Machine Vision. Quality is bought in the yard, not in the refinery,” he said.
*Shailendra Singh, Director General, Association of Plastic Recyclers India*, said India’s plastics recycling market is set to grow at *9-11% CAGR* over the next 5-10 years, driven by stringent EPR rules and mandatory recycled-content standards. He flagged waste collection and integration of the informal sector as key challenges.
*Suyog Keluskar, Senior Director, 1Lattice*, said battery recycling is the fastest-growing segment. “India imports around USD 2.5 billion of lithium and cobalt annually. The Rs. 1,500 crore scheme under the National Critical Mineral Mission shows the scale of opportunity. The gap is upstream – processing has seen investment, but collection networks remain weak. Future focus must be on AI and traceability.”
The expo concludes on September 2.
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