Policy Meets Platform: Govt Debuts Non-Ferrous Metal Recycling Framework

In a significant stride towards promoting sustainable industrial practices and advancing India's circular economy agenda, the Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, officially launched the Non-Ferrous Metal Recycling Website and Stakeholders' Portal – https://nfmrecycling.jnarddc.gov.in – on May 7, 2025. The launch event was graced by the Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, and senior dignitaries from the Ministry of Mines and the Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC).

Advancing India’s Vision of Circular Economy

The platform has been developed as a cornerstone initiative under the National Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework, which outlines India's strategic priorities for building a resilient and efficient recycling ecosystem. With a focus on critical metals such as aluminium, copper, lead, zinc, and associated rare and strategic elements, the website aims to create an ecosystem that is structured, data-driven, and transparent.

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy emphasized the government’s commitment to resource efficiency:

“India is committed to building a circular economy that optimally utilises its resources. This portal will not only provide real-time visibility into the recycling landscape but also empower all stakeholders to make informed decisions, bridge gaps, and unlock the full potential of our non-ferrous metal sector.”

A One-Stop Digital Hub for Stakeholders

The newly launched portal is envisioned as a comprehensive digital hub for recyclers, dismantlers, aggregators, industry associations, technology developers, and research bodies. It is designed to foster real-time information exchange and support informed policy decisions across the value chain.

Minister of State Shri Satish Chandra Dubey highlighted the transformative nature of the portal:

“This portal is a much-needed step in strengthening the recycling value chain and enhancing industry participation through transparency and data-driven policy support.”

Key Features of the Portal

The platform offers a host of powerful tools and services designed to modernize and optimize the recycling landscape in India:

• National Registry: Enables formal registration of dismantlers, recyclers, traders, and collection centers, promoting formalization and regulation of the sector.

• Material Flow Monitoring: Tracks the flow of non-ferrous metal scraps and products across regions and industries.

• Technology and Workforce Data: Provides detailed analytics on recycling technologies adopted and workforce engagement patterns.

• Benchmarking Tools: Offers comparative metrics for evaluating the performance of different industry participants.

• Infrastructure Mapping: Identifies regional and sectoral gaps in recycling infrastructure and skill development.

• Policy Updates and Knowledge Sharing: Keeps stakeholders informed about new policies, research advancements, best practices, and upcoming stakeholder consultations.

• Support for R&D and Skill Development: Gathers data to help shape targeted interventions in research, infrastructure expansion, certification systems, and awareness campaigns.

Impacts and Future Outlook

India's non-ferrous metal sector plays a vital role in national development due to its applications in energy, electronics, transport, and construction. However, the recycling of these metals has long been hindered by fragmented operations, informal practices, and lack of real-time data.

The launch of this integrated digital platform represents a systemic shift—moving the sector toward transparency, traceability, and performance accountability. It also complements India’s broader ambitions of reducing dependency on imports, minimizing environmental impact, and creating green jobs in the rapidly expanding resource recovery industry.

By aligning industry stakeholders, government bodies, and research institutions on a common digital interface, the initiative not only catalyzes current recycling operations but also paves the way for innovation-led growth in the sector.

This endeavor reflects India's proactive approach toward fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), and decent work and economic growth (SDG 8).