Industry leaders, policymakers and sustainability experts discussed and deliberated upon critical challenges and emerging opportunities in e-waste, battery recycling and solar waste management on the second day of GREENS 2026.
Co-organised by SALT Alliances and the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), GREENS 2026 is a three-day Global Recycling Expo and Summit being held at the Helipad Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar from June 4-6.
On the second day, the sessions brought together policymakers, industry stakeholders, think-tank experts, consultants and recyclers, to discuss the evolving regulatory frameworks, technology adoption, challenges around recycling industries and those faced by manufacturers about extended producer responsibilities (EPRs), critical mineral recovery and the future of India’s clean-energy waste ecosystem.
The session on “Critical Minerals from Waste: Building India’s Urban Mining Value Chain” focused on India’s growing need to establish a robust ecosystem for recovering valuable minerals from e-waste and battery waste streams. Speakers discussed policy support, technology interventions, recycling infrastructure gaps and the importance of formalising the recycling value chain.
The session featured Mr Remant Kumar Tiwari, Director – Sustainability & Climate, Deloitte India; Mr BK Soni, CMD, Eco Reco, Ms Manali Bhatt, Environment Engineer, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Mr Anupam Jalote, GM, Rare Earth Projects and Strategic Partnerships, GMDC, among others.
Another key session on “Solar EPR: Closing the Warehousing Loophole Before the Crisis Arrives” highlighted the emerging challenge of solar-panel waste management as India rapidly scales up renewable energy capacity. Discussions centred around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), warehousing concerns, policy preparedness and the need for a structured reverse logistics and recycling ecosystem for solar waste.
The session featured Mr Jaideep Malaviya, MD, Malaviya Solar Consultancy; Mr Shubhang Parekh, Assistant Director, NSEFI; Mr Shyam Rungta, Director, Regain Energies Solution; Mr Ajay Shah, Director, Vishakha Group; Mr Satyanarayan Nayak, GM – Sustainability, Waaree Energies; Mr Ajinkya Kale, Programme Associate, CEEW; and Mr Arun KA, Director – Energy, Resource & Industrial Solutions, Deloitte India.
Speaking about the quantum of solar waste generation, during the session, Mr Ajinkya Kale, programme associate from CEEW, said, “The quantum of solar waste generated in India is 100,000 metric tonne (MT) in India and this will rise to 11 million MT by 2047, given the rate at which solar projects are being launched. Extended Producer Responsibility is a good start but that alone will not be enough as it will have many challenges. An ecosystem for recycling solar waste should come up.”
The key sessions were well-received by the participants, who gained insights on the way forward for recycling businesses, manufacturing practices, policy interventions and challenges, among others.
Commenting on the response to the summit, Shri Ketan Prajapati, Director, SALT Alliances, said, “India’s transition towards a circular economy will require stronger collaboration between industry, policymakers, innovators and recyclers. Day-2 discussions at GREENS 2026 reflected the urgency
with which sectors are now approaching issues such as e-waste, battery recycling and solar waste management as part of India’s larger sustainability and resource-security goals.”
Shri Sandeep Engineer, President, GCCI and Chairman & Managing Director, Astral Limited, said, “As industries continue to scale, sustainability and resource efficiency can no longer remain parallel conversations. Platforms such as GREENS 2026 are important in bringing together stakeholders across the ecosystem to discuss practical and scalable recycling and circular economy solutions.”
GREENS 2026 has brought together more than 100 industry leaders, over 70 speakers and exhibitors representing 14 sectors across India’s recycling and circular economy ecosystem. The event is also an official Side Event of the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026. The summit will conclude on June 6.