India’s plastic recycling market to grow 9-11% annually demand rises: Association of Plastic Recyclers Bharat

INDIA – India’s plastic recycling market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 9 to 11 percent over the next five to ten years, driven by rising demand for recycled plastics, stronger extended producer responsibility regulations, and recycled-content mandates, according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers Bharat.

The association’s director general, Shailendra Singh, stated that the recycling ecosystem has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, supported by increased investment and the adoption of world-class technologies. 

He noted that recent fluctuations in virgin polymer prices have highlighted India’s dependence on imported petrochemicals, reinforcing the strategic importance of recycled plastics for resource security and self-reliance. 

Challenges Remain in Collection, Segregation and Informal Sector Integration

Despite the positive outlook, collection, source segregation and the integration of the informal sector into the formal recycling economy remain major challenges. 

Singh emphasised that addressing these structural gaps is critical to sustaining the sector’s growth trajectory. 

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board chairman Siddhesh Ramdas Kadam called for stronger collaboration between industry, government, citizens and young people to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy. 

He noted that in a recent clean-up of Mumbai’s Juhu Beach, 180 tonnes of waste was collected in six hours, while municipal authorities collect around 80-120 tonnes of waste daily on average, underscoring the scale of the waste management challenge.

Industry Leaders Call for Certification and Supply Chain Strengthening

Kadam urged greater participation from manufacturers and citizens in ensuring waste is segregated at source, stating that “we need to focus on small, practical steps such as segregation of waste at source. Ten smaller chains can ultimately lead to one big chain and make a significant difference”. 

Hyderabad-based plastic recycling firm Banyan Nation’s general manager, Kiarah Ahuja, noted that the company has been working on India’s polyolefin recycling challenge since 2013, building one of the country’s earliest organised supply chains for high-quality HDPE recycling. 

She added that as the market scales, the focus needs to shift towards building reliable, certified recycling capacity and strengthening the supply chain, adding that “EPR can do for recycled plastic what renewable purchase obligations did for solar by creating the demand”.

India’s plastic recycling market is projected to grow from US$6.57 billion in 2026 to US$11.71 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 8.6 percent, supported by growing demand from the packaging and automotive sectors.

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