India is pushing to adopt circular practices in copper use to meet rising green energy needs. While demand for copper is set to surge due to its use in EVs, solar, and wind tech, India’s domestic recycling sector remains weak. Most copper scrap is processed informally with low purity levels. Formalizing the system, improving technology, and policy reforms are critical to secure supply and meet clean energy targets.

BulletsIn

• Copper demand to rise by 50% by 2050, driven by EVs, solar, and wind energy.
• India recycles 95–99% of end-of-life copper, but only 1% via formal refining.
• Informal recycling yields low-quality copper with high impurities, unsuitable for energy-grade uses.
• GST at 18% discourages formal recycling; reforms needed to lower it and ease compliance.
• Two tech paths: LPE (flexible, but energy-intensive); upgraded electrorefining (efficient, needs high-grade scrap).
• LPE suits decentralized rural use if powered by renewables; electrorefining fits organized sector.
• No national registry, weak enforcement of scrap standards, poor data hamper oversight.
• New 5% recycled content mandate by 2028 far below global average (35%).
• PLI for e-waste recycling planned; impact will depend on better execution.
• Stronger rules, R&D, reverse logistics, and dedicated facilities key to true circularity.