Page 30 - Plastics News May 2026
P. 30
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
ing goods to the EU will have to comply, meaning ing design where their performance is judged
the new rules are likely to influence packaging not just by how they look, but by how well they
and labelling practices far beyond Europe. In ef- enable recycling.
fect, labels are evolving from decorative add-ons
into critical components of sustainable packag- Source- https://www.upm.com
MRAI ASKS FOR DEDICATED MINISTRY FOR RECYCLING
he call for a dedicated recycling ministry nodal authority is intended to bring coherence
has once again brought attention to the to the system. Such a body would act as a sin-
Tstructural challenges facing India’s waste gle point of coordination, ensuring better align-
management ecosystem. The Material Recy- ment between policy design and execution. It
cling Association of India (MRAI), representing could also provide continuity in leadership, re-
a wide cross-section of the recycling industry, duce bureaucratic delays, and streamline com-
has urged the government to establish either a pliance processes for businesses operating in
separate ministry or a centralised nodal author- the recycling sector. Industry experts believe
ity to oversee recycling and circular economy that centralised governance would improve in-
initiatives. The demand comes at a time when ter-ministerial coordination and create a more
India has already put in place a relatively strong predictable regulatory environment, which is
policy framework particularly through Extended crucial for attracting investment into recycling
Producer Responsibility (EPR) and sector-spe- infrastructure and technology.
cific waste rules but continues to struggle with
consistent implementation on the ground. The demand was reiterated during discussions
involving policymakers and institutions such as
According to industry stakeholders, the core NITI Aayog, where the broader theme was the
issue is not the absence of regulation, but the need to institutionalise India’s transition towards
fragmentation of responsibility across multiple a circular economy. Participants pointed out that
ministries and agencies. Different waste streams as recycling becomes increasingly important for
plastics, metals, e-waste, tyres are governed resource security and sustainability, it requires
by separate regulatory bodies, often leading to the same level of administrative focus as sectors
overlapping mandates, delays in decision-mak- like energy or infrastructure. Without a dedicat-
ing, and inconsistent enforcement. MRAI Presi- ed institutional framework, efforts to scale recy-
dent Sanjay Mehta highlighted that while India’s cling could remain uneven and fragmented.
policies are among the most forward-looking
globally, the lack of a unified institutional mech- At its core, the proposal reflects a shift in how re-
anism creates operational inefficiencies and cycling is being viewed in India from a peripheral
weakens the overall impact of these policies. environmental activity to a strategic economic
sector. With rising material demand, stricter en-
The proposed solution a dedicated ministry or vironmental regulations, and growing emphasis
32 PLASTICS NEWS May 2026
