“India has developed some of the most forward-looking policies in the recycling space. However, the real challenge lies in ensuring consistent and effective implementation on the ground,” MRAI president Sanjay Mehta said during the Paryavaran Niti Manthan organised by MRAI in association with the Niti Aayog.
According to the MRAI, structural bottlenecks, particularly frequent administrative transfers across ministries, disrupt policy continuity.
“This leads to inconsistent interpretation of regulations, delays in execution and a disconnect between policy intent and outcomes,” it said.
MRAI has called for establishment of a centralised nodal authority or a dedicated ministry for recycling and circular economy.
“Such a mechanism would ensure continuity in leadership, faster decision-making, better inter-ministerial coordination and streamlined compliance processes,” it said. Currently, the sector is governed by multiple ministries and regulatory bodies, resulting in fragmented oversight and operational inefficiencies.
Further, MRAI also called for a calibrated approach to extended producer responsibility instead of a one-size-fits-all framework.
“In high-value, market-driven segments such as non-ferrous metals, excessive regulatory intervention could disrupt already efficient recycling systems,” it said, adding that material-specific EPR frameworks aligned with existing ecosystem efficiencies is the need of the hour.