To promote action on recycling, recycling associations across the globe are observing the first Global Recycling Day.
According to the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) – oldest and largest global recycling federation, “The recyclables should be recognised as the 7th most important resource, after water, air, coal, oil, natural gas and minerals. ‘
There is an urgent need to raise awareness about the 7th resource and enhance the perception that recycling is about creating a clean and sustainable environment for us and for future generations.”
By 2025, India’s waste management sector is expected to be worth US$13.62 billion with an annual growth rate of 7.17 percent.
India produces 62 million tons of solid waste per year, but only about 75-80% of the municipal waste gets collected and 22-28% of that waste is processed and treated, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
Out of which, plastic is the most recycled material at the rate of 60%, most of it in the informal sector.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a food grade plastic which is globally used for food and pharma packaging has the highest rate of recycling. India generates over 900 tonnes of PET annually and has a recycling rate of over 95%, since PET bottles attract the best price in the recycling chain.
India has a very strong and effective informal recycling economy, comprising of rag pickers and downstream recyclers. However, currently we are not leveraging this economy to the fullest.
In order to address the problem of plastic pollution, we, as a country, along with industry need to work with rag pickers and recyclers to maximize recycling and resource use. There are several excellent initiatives and NGOs trying to help municipal and civic bodies to work more closely with rag pickers to understand their needs and to make the process from disposal to collection and recycling as effective as possible.
The Indian recycle industry employees close to 4 million people, directly or indirectly and plastic, especially PET bottles attract high recycling price.
This story has been edited but was auto-generated from a syndicated feed