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e-scrap recycling centres across India.
‘My dream would be to establish an
e-scrap hub in each city. From Delhi in
the north to Kochi in the south, and
from Mumbai in the west to Chennai
in the east.’
This call for a proper recycling infra-
structure is not new and the need for
structural and long-term sustainable
solutions remains obvious. India is the
world’s third largest e-scrap generator
after the USA and China. In 2019 the
country produced more than three
million tonnes of e-scrap of which only
10% was properly processed. ‘A lot
happens in paper and metal recycling,
but a massive amount of lamps and
crt screens still end up in landfill.’
MAJoR CHALLENGES, BIG pLANS
The problem Murthy identifies in India
is a lack of everything: ‘Leadership,
smart technology and processing
capacity, a good working collection
and recycling system. There may be
regulation but there is no enforce-
ment. And there is no awareness
either.’
According to the recycler, all these
key challenges need to be tackled.
‘Creating awareness is crucial,’ he
stresses. ‘Only true leadership can
bring the main parties together: gov-
ernment, recyclers, informal sector,
everybody.’
With the launch of 10 to 20 cutting
edge integrated recycling plants ‘to
cover 3-5% of the market’, Murthy
wants to make a first step and set a
good example. Total investment
needed: EUR 100 million. ‘That is a lot
of money and we are looking for part-
ners from around the globe to join us.’
He concedes that 5% is a small step.
‘Ultimately, you would need 100-plus
integrated facilities to build a serious
capacity making a real difference. It is
not easy but I believe it is possible.’
In 2019 India produced more than three million tonnes of e-scrap of which only 10% was properly processed. Part of the Bangalore facility workforce.
ARIZoNA START-Up
The blueprint for the India’s first inte-
grated e-scrap facility lies in Phoenix,
Arizona where Murthy, together with
US e-scrap recycler Arrow, is involved
in a state-of-the-art facility for the
recovery of precious metals.
Vans Chemistry was responsible for
the total concept, design, technology
and set-up; Murthy is chief technology
manager of the plant and also a small
shareholder. Getting the project
through its final stage has not been
easy, according to Murthy. ‘Shipping
the technology from Singapore and
Italy to the US was delayed due to the
pandemic, so we had to postpone the
launch.’
Cutting edge recovery and technology
applications used at the Phoenix plant
are essential to help recapture and
reuse the precious metals embedded
in the modern waste stream, believes
Murthy. ‘Our innovative, modular and
closed-loop methods and tools form
the answer to help us all sustainably
meet the growing demand for gold,
silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium,
ruthenium and more.’
Materials will be sourced from elec-
tronics producing industries, the
defence sector, mining concentrates,
dental services and automotive cata-
lysts. Operations are compliant with
international certifications and stan-
dards including R2, ISO 45001, EMS
14001 etc.
Due to be launched in the first quarter
of 2021, the plant will operate under
the name Arrow United Refining and
has the capacity to handle 20 000
tonnes of e-scrap.
oNE VoICE FoR ASIA
Meanwhile, Murthy has initiated a
plan to create a platform for electron-
ics recyclers across Asia. The E-Waste
Recycling Association Asia will bridge
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