Steel scrap recycling policy
The Union Steel Ministry has released the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy.
Steel scrap recycling policy goals
■ To promote recycling based economy in the steel sector.
■ Scientific collection and disposal of items made of ferrous, non-ferrous and other non-metallic materials for recycling.
■ Processing and recycling of waste steel products in a systematic, safe and environment friendly manner.
■ To produce high quality iron scrap for quality steel production, thereby reducing dependence on imports.
■ To develop an efficient mechanism for disposal of steel recycling waste in accordance with the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Trans boundary Movement) Rules, 2016.
■ Promotion of core 6R principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign and Remanufacture for processing and disposal of all types of steel waste including non-ferrous scrap by authorized centres.Key points of the policy
■ The new policy envisages scrap based steel making technologies as an important option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
■ This policy provides standard guidelines for collection and disposal of metallic wastes in an organized, safe and environment friendly manner.
■ Provision for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has also been made in the scrap policy. Under EPR, vehicle manufacturers will have to bear the responsibility of disposing of unfit vehicles by offering a discount to customers at the time of purchasing a new vehicle.
■ Apart from this, vehicles will be designed keeping in mind their recycling in case of unfitness of automobile vehicles.
■The policy envisages promoting the establishment of metal scrapping centers based on hub and spoke model.
Extended Manufacturer Responsibility (EPR)EPR is an environmental protection strategy to minimize the environmental impacts of a product.
■ Under this, the responsibility is imposed on the product manufacturer for the entire life cycle of the product, especially for recall, recycling and final disposal of the product once it becomes unusable.
Why need a policy of Steel scrap recycling policy?
■ Availability of steel scrap is a major issue in India. In the year 2017, its supply was 7 million tonnes less than the demand. Steel scrap worth ₹24,500 crore was imported in the year 2017-18.
■ The new steel scrap policy will reduce the gap between demand and supply of steel scrap in future and help in achieving self-sufficiency in steel scrap by the year 2030.
■ Under the National Steel Policy, to increase steel production to 250 metric tons, scrap production should be increased from 70 to 80 metric tons For this, 700 scrap processing centers will be required.
■ This scrap policy can complement the objective of making the country’s steel industry globally competitive by developing 300 million tonnes of steel production capacity per year by the year 2030 under the National Steel Policy, 2017.
■ At the end of the life of vehicles and home appliances like air conditioners, washing machines, a large amount of scrap is generated which is recycled for steel production. Keeping in view the problem of collection of this scrap, effective measures have been taken in this policy regarding the recycling sector.
Potential Benefits of Steel scrap recycling policy
■ The use of steel scrap as raw material in steel production is being encouraged globally because recycling of scrap, among other things, saves significant natural resources.
■ Utilization of each tonne of scrap will save 1.1 tonne of iron ore, 630 kg of coking coal and 55 kg of limestone. Use of scrap will also result in significant savings in specific energy consumption.
■ If better scrap is available to run electric furnaces, it will be possible to produce high quality steel from these furnaces.
■ If better processed scrap is produced in the country, then not only the import of common scrap will reduce, but the import of high quality steel will also reduce.
■ A total of 2800 people will get employment in 70 units with 7 MT scrap production capacity. Under the National Steel Policy, 2017, if the country produces 70 metric tonnes of steel, then about three lakh jobs can be created.
