Forum for plastic recycling units

The Rs 10,000 crore plastic recycling sector, comprising upto 20,000 units, will be invited to join the newly formed Federation of Indian Plastics Recycling Industries (FIPRI).

More than 200 units, almost all based in eastern India, have formed FIPRI.

The members met under the aegis of Centre for Quality Management System of Jadavpur University.

"More than 4,000 local plastic recycling units are working in an unorganised manner and the sector desperately needs a platform to resolve problems," said Sadhan K Ghosh, coordinator of CQMS and FIPRI.

The member firms have units in Tangra, Kossipore, Topsia and Belur in Kolkata and some have units in north Bengal. Most typically operate with capacity of 400-1,500 kg per day.

Plastic recycling units are having to handle growing volumes of waste plastics but are simultaneously having to face pressure to shut down.

More than 600 units have shut down in the Delhi region and many have been closed in West Bengal as well.

A special drive to sign up units located in Delhi has generated interest.

FIPRI has held meetings with the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) to resolve pollution related issues and this was expected to provide guidelines for other units.

PCB met units for the first time recently to organise recycling in an organised manner and the meeting yielded positive results.

PCBs are expected to move away from sudden closure to a policy that will lead to relocation of recycling units to demarcated clusters or special zones for plastic recycling.

The units would be able to continue operations there subject to meeting all pollution norms.

Lack of coordination between municipal bodies, pollution control boards and recycling units was at the root of the problems facing the recycling industry.

PCBs could help recycling units secure 'no objection' or 'consent to operate' certificates after helping them upgrade.

PCBs were also in a position to grant trade licences to unorganised units if they abide by pollution norms.