SIAM and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Lead Automotive Industry Towards Circular Economy through EPR Workshop

Mumbai, April 9, 2024: In its endeavour to promote sustainable mobility, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex body for the automobile industry, collaborated with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to jointly organize a "Circularity Workshop" on "Extended Producer Responsibility Regime: An Innovative Policy Tool for Fostering a Sustainable Circular Economy in the Automotive Industry.”  

This workshop was conducted on 8th April in Mumbai, under SIAM's Chakriyata initiative, which aims to facilitate meaningful discussions and develop actionable strategies for sustainable mobility through waste management, recycling, and other circularity principles.

The workshop served as a platform for industry stakeholders and government representatives to converge, fostering insightful discussions on the benefits and challenges associated with implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) within the automotive sector. With a focus on catalysing sustainable practices, the event aimed to garner valuable insights into leveraging EPR as a strategic mechanism towards achieving a circular economy in the automotive industry.

The Inaugural session was opened by Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, highlighting the commitment of auto industry towards sustainability. He mentioned that SIAM through its Chakriyata initiative has been focusing on promoting the recycling ecosystem within the country. Further, he also mentioned that this event, which brings together all key stakeholders in the automotive recycling ecosystem, will help in developing new ideas and ensuring alignment to ensure achievement of government’s circularity vision.

Sushant Naik, Chairman, SIAM Electric Mobility Group and Global Head-Government & Public Affairs, Tata Motors, expressed, “SIAM Chakriyata’s (चक्रीयता) vision is to harmonize economic growth, environmental integrity, and social equity in the automotive industry. Through the Extended Producer Responsibility framework, our focus is to minimize waste and maximize recycling efforts, paving the way for a sustainable future."

Sanjay Mehta, President, Material Recycling Association of India, addressed on Imperatives of the EPR Regime in India, presented the recyclers' view while setting the context on "Imperatives of the EPR Regime in India”. He further stated that the RVSFs and OEMs in India need to work together to solve the key issues impacting the sector.

On this occasion, Avinash Dhakne, Member Secretary, MPCB, spoke on “The recycling ecosystem in Maharashtra for various waste streams" at the Circularity Workshop, providing the state pollution board's perspective on the subject 'EPR - A policy approach for accelerating the transition to the circular economy’
Anand Kumar, Director &. Divisional Head, WM-III Division, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), presented CPCB’s perspective on the different EPR norms that have come out in recent years including that for ELVs, tyres, batteries and e-waste. He further stated that the regulators and industry should work together with a problem solving mind-set which will help in resolving key issues and ensure the development of recycling ecosystem in the country.

Vijay Prakash Yadav, Director, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and M S Anandkumar, Chairman, SIAM Recycling & Material Group and Senior General Manager, TVS Motor Company, were also present in the session.
The 1st session of the workshop was themed on “EPR Regime in Used Oil & Plastic Waste Management”. Setting the stage for this session, Mr. Anant Bhargava, CEO & Director of IFP Petro, delivered insights on “Opportunities in Used Oil EPR implementation and Circular Economy”. Anand Kumar, Director & Divisional Head of WM-III Division at CPCB, discussed on the “Implementation of Used Oil & Plastic Waste EPR rules: Trading Mechanism of EPR Certificates at CPCB Portals.”

The session further featured thematic presentations by industry experts. Shailendra Gokhale, Founder & Director of Rosefield Energy Tech Pvt Ltd, delved into the “Status, Challenges, Opportunities and Way forward” in this domain. Additionally, Peeyush Dubey, General Manager at Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, and Sohail Akhtar, Executive Director at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Shakti Mishra, Deputy General Manager at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, presented on “OMC perspective on Used Oil”, detailing the key steps being taken by OMCs in promoting the development of used oil recycling ecosystem.
During the session, Vikrant Hemant Bhalerao, Sub regional officer, MPCB, provided MPCB’s perspective on different EPR norms while also talking about the recycling ecosystem in Maharashtra.

The 2nd session of the workshop was themed on “EPR Regime in ELV Management & Tyre Waste”. Bharat Kalaskar, Joint Transport Commissioner, Transport Department, Govt of Maharashtra highlighted his views on “Phasing out of End-of-Life vehicles & their impact on ambient air quality.  Yash Pal Sachar, Vice President, Ashok Leyland discussed on “EPR Regime in Automotive Sector”.
The session further featured thematic presentations by Sumit Issar, Managing Director, Mahindra Accelo on “Technological Innovations in ELV Recycling and Resource Recovery at the level of RVSF”, and Prabhakar Tiwari, General Manager, Tata Motors on “Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the Automobile: Challenges and Solutions at RVSF level”. Dr. Anuraddha Ganesh, Chief Technical Advisor, Cummins, presented on “Circular Economy Strategies: Aligning ELV Policies with Sustainable Practices”, wherein she talked about the importance of designing for recycling, the need for using recyclable materials, along with concept of remanufacturing of automotive parts, which can increase the useful life of parts, thus aiding resource conservation. The session also saw Dr Rashi Gupta, Founder & Managing Director, Vision Mechatronics Private Ltd on presenting on “Battery Waste management”, wherein she highlighted the importance of battery recycling, given the increase in EV sales and battery usage of energy storage.
The third session of the workshop focused on “EPR Regime in Battery Waste & E-Waste”. Rujuta Bhalerao, Sub Regional Officer, MPCB, provided MPCB’s perspective on battery and e-waste management, along with the detailing the recycling ecosystem in Maharashtra.

Additionally, Vijay Prakash Yadav, Director at CPCB, shared his perspectives on “Implementation of Battery Waste Management rules and Trading Mechanism of EPR Certificates at CPCB Portal”. The last session further featured thematic presentations by Prabhakar Tiwari, General Manager, Tata Motors who talked about “Battery waste management rule” and M S Anandkumar, Chairman, SIAM Recycling & Material Group and Senior General Manager, TVS Motor Company, who presented his view on the EPR regime, key challenges and how it can help drive circularity

The successful organization of the circularity workshop showcased SIAM’s commitment to promoting circularity in the automotive sector in order to facilitate India’s move towards sustainable mobility. The event concluded on a high note, facilitating a rich and insightful exchange of ideas, best practices, and strategies.