National Non-ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework

• 15 Mar 2021

Why in News

The Ministry of Mines has issued a National non-ferrous metal scrap recycling framework, 2020 in a bid to cut down the scrap imports.

• It also seeks to use a life cycle management approach for better efficiency in the mineral value chain process.

Key Points

• Objectives of the Recycling Framework:
  
  • To work towards economic wealth creation, job creation and increased contribution to GDP through metal recycling.
  • To promote a formal and well organized recycling ecosystem by adopting energy efficient processes.
  • To minimize the effect of end of life products on landfills and environmental pollution by promoting an environmentally sound recycling system.
  • To evolve a responsive ecosystem by involving all stakeholders.
• Implementation Guidelines:
  
  • The framework envisages setting up of a central Metal Recycling Authority to facilitate recycling of metals.
  • The government will work towards establishing standards for Quality of scrap used for recycling.
  • A mechanism for registration of segregators, dismantlers, recyclers, collection centers etc. will be developed to promote recycling to an organized sector
  • It is proposed to set up Urban Mines, envisaged as a location to collect and hold large quantities of similar materials.
  • An Online market platform/ exchange platform for recycled/secondary metal will be developed.
    
    • Recyclers may explore the possibility of entering into collection contracts with industrial and commercial establishments.
• Roles/ Responsibilities of Stakeholders:
  
  • Responsibility of Manufacturer: To ensure that any Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines/Regulations be strictly adhered to.
    
    • Designing products that are easier to recycle and reuse in an efficient and environmentally sound manner.
  • Role of Public: Public should responsibly dispose of scrap at designated scrap collection centers for their effective and environmentally sound processing.
  • Role of Government: MoEF&CC to streamline the regulatory requirements, eliminating multiple clearances wherever feasible, for the recycling units.
  • Role of Recycling Authority: Developing technical, safety and environmental norms and SOPs for handling and processing of scraps in consultation with MoEFCC, CPCB, BIS, etc.
• Challenges Faced By the Non-ferrous Metals Recycle Industry:
  
  • A major challenge is its heavy dependence on import of metal scrap.
  • Lack of an organized / systematic scrap recovery mechanism.
  • Lack of sustained implementation of existing regulations on waste collection and recycling.
  • Lack of standardization of recycled products adversely affecting market adoption.
  • Lack of specific skill sets on responsible methods and technologies.
• Government Initiatives For Recycling
  
  • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is in the process of formulating National Resource Efficiency Policy (NREP) which aims to mainstream resource efficiency across all sectors, wherein Aluminium sector has been considered as a priority sector.
  • The Ministry of Steel has brought out a Steel Scrap Recycling Policy which envisages a framework to facilitate and promote establishment of metal scrap recycling centers.
  • NITI Aayog is proposing a comprehensive “National Material Recycling Policy” to drive concerned and coordinated national and state level programs, plans and actions towards ramping up material recycling in India in a formal and organized manner.

Non-Ferrous Metal

• The Non-ferrous metals can be classified in broad categories as
  
  • Base metals (e.g. aluminium, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, tin)
  • Precious metals (e.g. silver, gold, palladium, other platinum group metals)
  • Minor metals including refractory metals (e.g. tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, chromium) and
  • Specialty metals (e.g. cobalt, germanium, indium, tellurium, antimony, and gallium).
• Aluminium is the second most used metal in the world after Iron.
• Copper is the third most important base metal by value.
• Zinc is the fourth most widely used metal across the globe.

Source: IE