Introduction
On May 14th, 2025, industry leaders, government officials, and recycling experts gathered at the Silver Oak Hall, India Habitat Centre, Delhi for a pivotal event focused on advancing circular economy models through innovative mechanisms. The event, organized by Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) in collaboration with Meta Materials Circular Markets (MMCM), brought together stakeholders from across the value chain to address the critical components driving India's circular economy: carbon credits, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and traceability systems.
What made this event particularly noteworthy was how each speaker presented a piece of the puzzle, collectively forming a comprehensive framework for sustainable vehicle recycling in India. The discussions revealed not just the challenges but also the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead for industry players who embrace these innovations, particularly the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs).
Morning Session: Building the Foundation
Welcome Address: Setting the Tone
The event commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Prabhjot Sodhi, Former Head of Circular Economy at UNDP, who emphasized the importance of creating incentive mechanisms for driving circularity in India's recycling economy. His address set the stage for the day's discussions by highlighting India's potential to become a global leader in sustainable recycling practices.
Panel 1: Need of Incentive Mechanism in Circularity
The first panel, moderated by Dr. Ashok Kumar (President of Recycling & Environment Industry Association of India), delved into the critical need for incentive mechanisms to drive circular economy practices. This panel brought together representatives from regulatory bodies, carbon markets, and recycling industries to discuss the frameworks needed to reward sustainable practices.
Mr. Rohit Kumar, Secretary General of the Carbon Markets Association of India, outlined the growing global demand for carbon credits and the opportunity for Indian recyclers to tap into this market through traceable and responsible recycling practices.
Representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), including Mr. VP Yadav (Director) and Mrs. Youthika Puri Divisional Head of E-Waste & WM-III, provided crucial insights into the regulatory mechanisms being developed to support circularity. They emphasized that CPCB is implementing robust mechanisms to ensure traceability in recycling, which is fundamental for validating carbon credits and EPR compliance.
Ms. Agamoni Ghosh from S&P Global presented a market perspective, highlighting that high-quality carbon credits with proper traceability command premium prices in international markets, particularly in Europe.
Mr. Abhinav Mathur from Attero Recycling shared their experiences implementing circular practices in eWaste recycling and the business benefits they've realized.
A key takeaway from this panel was the critical importance of traceability for generating legitimate carbon credits. As noted, "While there are many buyers for carbon credits globally, there is a pressing need for more suppliers who can assure the genuineness of their credits through proper traceability systems."
ELV Credits Monetization Ceremony
In a landmark moment for the industry, two leading recycling companies— Rosmerta Recycling and MTC Group —were recognized for their participation in a DigiELV led trial for generating carbon credits from scrapped vehicles.
The trial demonstrated how data points from properly scrapped vehicles could be used to generate and monetize carbon credits, creating a new revenue stream for compliant recyclers.
This ceremony was particularly significant as it provided tangible proof that following strict recycling procedures and adhering to EPR guidelines could directly enhance profitability for recyclers. The financial rewards given to these companies highlighted the economic incentives available to those who implement proper traceability and follow stringent environmental guidelines.
Midday Sessions: Deepening the Conversation
Panel 2: Building Transparent and Accountable Circularity Models
The second panel, moderated by Mr. Yashodhan Ramteke (Head of Carbon Business Unit-MMCM), focused on practical approaches to building transparent and accountable circularity models—a crucial requirement for validating both carbon credits and EPR compliance.
Mr. Pratyush Sinha from Lohum, a battery recycler, discussed the challenges in battery recycling and the importance of documented chain of custody to ensure proper environmental handling.
Ms. Surbhi Jore from ASM (RecycleX) and Mr. Dhanish Goyal from India EPR Association offered insights into the practical implementation of EPR in the Indian context and also spoke about implementing concepts like Battery passport in India, specifically something like an aadhar card for recyclable materials.
Representatives from Bureau Veritas and TERI emphasized that adherence to international recycling standards is becoming non-negotiable as global markets increasingly demand accountability in EPR and carbon credit generation.
A consensus emerged that traceability is the foundation upon which both EPR compliance and carbon credit generation rest. As fraud attempts increase, more stringent systems are being developed, creating both challenges and opportunities for legitimate recyclers.
Mr. Sudheer Gupta, Senior Vice President at NeML, presented their evolving platform, which has expanded from agricultural commodities to include scrap materials and End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs). The platform aims to serve as a price discovery mechanism for the recycling industry, potentially bringing greater market transparency to scrap valuation.
Afternoon Sessions: Practical Implementation
Workshop: Carbon Markets and Mechanisms
Following lunch, Mr. Rohit Garg (Founder & Director- NatureFix ) and Mr. Gairik Biswas (MMCM) conducted an in-depth workshop on carbon markets, explaining the mechanisms and referencing international agreements that frame these markets.
A critical revelation from this session was that EPR cannot be traded directly between recyclers (RVSFs) and end users (car manufacturers). Instead, all transactions must go through licensed trading platforms regulated by CPCB to ensure quality control and proper traceability.
This regulatory requirement ensures the integrity of the EPR system but also necessitates that recyclers understand and comply with the proper channels for monetizing their efforts.
Presentation by ScrapMyCar India
In one of the day's most relatable presentations, Mr. Joshi Sikha, Co-Founder of ScrapMyCar India, shared his company's journey from 2017 to the present. The presentation traced their evolution from operating a physical yard and used car parts business, through initial failures, to their current model as an online platform connecting vehicle owners with RVSFs and introducing an innovative ELV bidding platform.
What made this presentation particularly impactful was ScrapMyCar's unique perspective as both a former player in physical scrapping and now a facilitator in the digital space. Joshi focused on addressing the real pain points of scrappers—challenges he understood firsthand from his company's industry experience. ScrapMyCar's position as a comprehensive facilitator stems from their experience across various aspects of the vehicle lifecycle, enabling them to create solutions that address the practical challenges faced by RVSFs.
The presentation received enthusiastic feedback from attendees, including other scrappers and industry representatives who appreciated the relatable narrative and the platform's understanding of on-the-ground challenges.
Workshop: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
The final workshop, led by Mr. Sriram Iyengar (MMCM) and Mr. Abhishek Garg AA Garg & Co., provided detailed technical and legal insights into EPR implementation in India.
The government has established a clear and strong legal structure for EPR, mandating specific recycling responsibilities for car manufacturers. CPCB is planning to establish minimum and maximum prices for EPR to ensure market stability for both manufacturers and recyclers.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
The event concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Sujeet Samaddar, highlighting India's strong commitment to becoming a global example in car recycling, with the EPR and carbon credit framework representing a unique initiative not found in other countries.
Several key themes emerged throughout the day:
check_circle Traceability as the Foundation: Every speaker emphasized that traceability is the fundamental requirement for both EPR compliance and carbon credit generation. Without robust traceability systems, neither initiative can function properly.
check_circle Financial Incentives as Drivers: The monetization of carbon credits and EPR demonstrates that environmental compliance can be financially rewarding, creating powerful incentives for RVSFs to follow guidelines.
check_circle Digital Platforms as Enablers: From ScrapMyCar's bidding platform to CPCB's consolidated website for EPR trading, digital infrastructure is emerging as a critical enabler for the circular economy.
check_circle RVSFs as the Keystones: Perhaps most importantly, the success of the entire recycling ecosystem hinges on the success of the scrappers themselves. As Joshi Sikha noted, supporting the profitability and growth of RVSFs is essential for the broader circular economy goals.
For industry participants seeking to stay updated on EPR developments, ScrapMyCar will be sharing regular updates through their social media channels and website (scrapmycar.in), as well as sending newsletters to scrappers and RVSFs.
The path forward includes challenges, particularly concerning the procurement of vehicles and the accounting of used car parts within the traceability framework. However, the ongoing development of comprehensive systems—like CPCB's central platform for EPR trading—suggests that India is building the infrastructure needed to support a truly circular automobile economy.
As the day's discussions made clear, the success of India's circular economy initiatives will depend on collaboration across the entire value chain, with each stakeholder playing their crucial role in the larger ecosystem. For RVSFs in particular, embracing these new frameworks presents not just regulatory requirements but genuine opportunities for business growth and diversified revenue streams.
This article is based on the proceedings of the "Advancing Circularity: Through Carbon Credits, EPR & Traceability" event held on May 14th, 2025, at India Habitat Centre, Delhi. For more information on how these developments affect your business, contact ScrapMyCar at scrapmycar.in.