Indian Recycling Industry Defends Trade Ties at BIR Meeting in Singapore Amid EU Waste Export Regulation Changes

At the BIR meeting held in Singapore, the Indian recycling industry was passionately defended, calling for continued trade between the two regions as the EU adjusts its waste and scrap export regulations. Sanjay Mehta, Director of the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI), spoke at the meeting, expressing his disappointment over developed countries seeking restrictions due to concerns that India might cause pollution. He pointed out, "We should not ignore that India is the fastest-growing country in the world. If such regulations are imposed on us, it will affect not only India but the entire international recycling industry."

At the core of the discussion was the EU's revised Waste Shipment Regulation. As a non-OECD country, India must indicate to the European Commission the types of materials it wishes to import before the stipulated deadline. However, if an application is submitted, the EU requires that only after independent audits of India's facilities can it export its defined "non-hazardous waste.