In pursuit of advancing sustainable mobility, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in collaboration with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, jointly organized a “Circularity Workshop” on “Extended Producer Responsibility Regime: An Innovative Policy Tool for Fostering a Sustainable Circular Economy in the Automotive Industry.” The workshop, held on 8th April 2024 in Mumbai, was part of 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 provided 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 catalyzing sustainable practices, the event aimed to gather valuable insights into leveraging EPR as a strategic mechanism towards achieving a circular economy in the automotive industry.
The inaugural session, opened by Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director of SIAM, underscored the auto industry’s commitment to sustainability. Banerjee highlighted SIAM’s focus on promoting the recycling ecosystem within the country through its Chakriyata initiative. He emphasized that the event, which brought together key stakeholders in the automotive recycling ecosystem, would help develop new ideas and ensure alignment to achieve the government’s circularity vision.
Sushant Naik, Chairman of SIAM Electric Mobility Group and Global Head of Government & Public Affairs at Tata Motors, stated, “SIAM Chakriyata’s 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 of the Material Recycling Association of India, discussed the imperatives of the EPR regime in India, presenting the recyclers’ view and highlighting the need for collaboration between RVSFs and OEMs in India to address key sector issues. Avinash Dhakne, Member Secretary of MPCB, spoke on “The recycling ecosystem in Maharashtra for various waste streams” at the Circularity Workshop, providing the state pollution board’s perspective on EPR as a policy approach for accelerating the transition to the circular economy.
Anand Kumar, Director & Divisional Head of WM-III Division at the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), presented CPCB’s perspective on the different EPR norms that have been introduced in recent years, including those for ELVs, tyres, batteries, and e-waste. He emphasized the need for regulators and industry to work together with a problem-solving mindset to resolve key issues and ensure the development of a recycling ecosystem in the country.
Present at the session were Vijay Prakash Yadav, serving as Director at the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and M S Anandkumar, Chairman of SIAM Recycling & Material Group and Senior General Manager at TVS Motor Company. The initial session of the workshop focused on “EPR Regime in Used Oil & Plastic Waste Management.” To set the stage, Anant Bhargava, CEO & Director of IFP Petro, provided insights into “Opportunities in Used Oil EPR implementation and Circular Economy.”
Following this, Anand Kumar, Director & Divisional Head of WM-III Division at CPCB, discussed the “Implementation of Used Oil & Plastic Waste EPR rules: Trading Mechanism of EPR Certificates at CPCB Portals.” The session also included 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, Sohail Akhtar, Executive Director at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, and Shakti Mishra, Deputy General Manager at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, presented on the “OMC perspective on Used Oil,” detailing the key steps taken by OMCs to promote the development of the used oil recycling ecosystem. Vikrant Hemant Bhalerao, Sub-regional officer at MPCB, provided MPCB’s perspective on different EPR norms while also discussing the recycling ecosystem in Maharashtra.
The second session of the workshop focused on “EPR Regime in ELV Management & Tyre Waste.” Bharat Kalaskar, Joint Transport Commissioner, Transport Department, Govt of Maharashtra, shared his views on the “Phasing out of End-of-Life vehicles & their impact on ambient air quality.” Yash Pal Sachar, Vice President at Ashok Leyland, discussed “EPR Regime in Automotive Sector.”
The session included thematic presentations by Sumit Issar, Managing Director at Mahindra Accelo, on “Technological Innovations in ELV Recycling and Resource Recovery at the level of RVSF,” and Prabhakar Tiwari, General Manager at Tata Motors, on “Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the Automobile: Challenges and Solutions at RVSF level.”
Dr Anuraddha Ganesh, Chief Technical Advisor at Cummins, presented on “Circular Economy Strategies: Aligning ELV Policies with Sustainable Practices,” emphasizing the importance of designing for recycling and using recyclable materials, along with the concept of remanufacturing automotive parts to increase their useful life and aid in resource conservation. The session also featured Dr Rashi Gupta, Founder & Managing Director at Vision Mechatronics Private Ltd, presenting on “Battery Waste management,” highlighting the importance of battery recycling given the increase in EV sales and battery usage for energy storage.
The third session focused on “EPR Regime in Battery Waste & E-Waste.” Rujuta Bhalerao, Sub-Regional Officer at MPCB, provided MPCB’s perspective on battery and e-waste management, along with 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 final session included thematic presentations by Prabhakar Tiwari, General Manager at Tata Motors, who discussed “Battery waste management rule,” and M S Anandkumar, Chairman of SIAM Recycling & Material Group and Senior General Manager at 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 demonstrated SIAM’s commitment to promoting circularity in the automotive sector to facilitate India’s move towards sustainable mobility. The event concluded on a positive note, facilitating a rich and insightful exchange of ideas, best practices, and strategies.
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) serves as the primary national organization representing major vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India. Established as a charitable society under the Societies Registration Act 1860, SIAM aims to bolster the automobile industry’s role in advancing the Indian economy. It strives to aid the industry in fulfilling its social responsibilities while promoting its overall efficiency, especially within India.
Additionally, SIAM is dedicated to enhancing environmental protection by addressing issues such as global warming, pollution control, and ensuring the safety of automobile users and the public. Due to its commitment to these goals, SIAM has been officially recognized under the Income Tax Act 1961 as a charitable institution.