BIS standards will not be unfair to industry players: NITI Aayog adviser
PANAJI
Sanjay Mehta, President of Material Recycling Association of India urged the recyclers in India to come together in the face of arm-twisting tactics applied by primary producers in pushing for BIS standards to put a curb on scrap imports. Mehta added that MRAI is holding series of discussion with the concerned authorities to paint a clearer picture.
Material Recycling Association of India successfully concluded its Asia’s biggest Recycling Business Summit 2021 at Taj Resorts & Convention Centre in Goa.
The inaugural event was chaired by the esteemed dignitaries including Sudhir Kumar, Adviser, NITI Aayog, Dr Sandip Chatterjee, Director; Scientist F, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, GOI; Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC; Sachin Shah, Fund Portfolio Manager, Emkay Investment Managers Ltd.
Sudhir Kumar in his special address assured that BIS standards will not be unfair to the industry players and urged recyclers to not to shy away from developing them.
Dr Sandeep Chatterjee stressed the point that recycling is not an option but a necessity.
Dhawal Shah, Sr VP, MRAI also raised the environmental concern against the primary producers import of coal and red mud pollution are also impacting the environment and natural resource while recycling industry is saving natural resources and energy cost.
Earlier in the day, a session was held on ‘MRA for Secondary Aluminium Industry’ on the sidelines of the summit. Secondary producers voiced their concerns about the upcoming standardisation for scrap before the representatives of Material Recycling Authority (MRA).
Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development & Design Centre (JNARDC), Nagpur has been appointed as MRA for developing quality standards for material recycling.
Mohan Agarwal, Director MRAI discussed the key challenges and suggestions to the MRA from the recycling industry. He said they have appealed to the government that they should consider on not stopping raw material flow by curbing imports of scrap. Metal consumption is an important element of India growth story. Due to non-availability of specialised grade in domestic market, India imports special grades of aluminium which is mostly used in automobile Industry.
He further added that curbing imports will lead to challenges ahead for secondary manufacturers who are turning the wheels of circular economy in line with the Paris Pact.
The members of MRAI appealed to the MRA dignitaries, Anupan Agnihotriand RN Chauhan to consider and propagate the Industry message to concerned authorities.
Sanjay Mehta, President of MRAI remarked, “We are happy to comply with the norms set. We are bringing metal in India with our imports. It is adding value to the Indian economy in a significant manner.”
In the E-waste recycling business, players have expressed concern about the 20 per cent capacity utilisation which is hampering the E-waste Industry despite India being the 3rd largest e-waste generation country. During the session. ALN Rao, CFO, Exigo and BK Soni MD, Eco Recycling , Ekta Narain, Pooja Rajput, Kiran Panchal, Amrendra Kumar all associated with E-waste industry have also drawn the Government’s attention to GST on purchase of E waste of 5% and the GST on finished goods sold by the recyclers at 18%. Hence, most kabadiwalas buy at 5% and sell the finished goods for cash. This is heavily impacting revenue loss to the exchequer due to this GST rate flaw. Therefore, organized recyclers find it difficult to sell the downstream materials at a better rate.
Besides, MRAI Plastic Recycling session also highlighted the proposed BIS standards being imposed on Non-Prime Scrap Material with effect from October 15. Such imposition will have an adverse impact on 75,000 MT export of plastic market and 5000 MSME Plastic Recycling units which provide huge employment to rag pickers and more women from the weaker sections of society as highlighted by Prabhjot Sodhi, Sr Director, Centre for Environment Education.
