Page 83 from: What’s inside?

MESSAGE FROM MUMBAI

83recyclinginternational.com | May/June | 2024

Having spent around 27 years in the business of met-
als recycling, there hasn’t been a day which has been
short on excitement, hope and inspiration. I have wit-
nessed some revolutionary technologies, engaged
with diverse product streams and applications, and
have successfully worked within markets which are
characteristically and culturally unique.
During this journey I have met some extraordinary
people who have left me impressed for a lifetime with
their work, knowledge and passion for the business.
Today, every person, every business and every gov-
ernment is invoking sustainability and circularity, trying
to make them a way of daily life. Terms like upcycling,
recycling and reuse are now being taught in elemen-
tary school and many households are adopting them.
From an industry standpoint, this provides a sense of
pride and satisfaction. But this change has also result-
ed in the creation of a strong magnetic force, attract-
ing fresh graduates and engineers to further innovate
and create new business. They are using the latest
technology, including AI, and are gradually becoming
the new champions of sustainability.

SHARK TANK INDIA
In the past 12 months alone, we have seen in India
around 100 new waste management and start-up
companies where the core business is ‘recycling’.
Turning waste to wealth has almost become a national
slogan. Three recycling companies have been success-
ful on Shark Tank India, the Indian version of the pop-
ular US TV reality show Shark Tank (known as
Dragons’ Den in the UK), and secured funds from
investors.

SECOND LIFE FOR FLOWERS
While a lot of such companies have focussed on recy-
cling plastics, paper, tyres, e-waste, bio-waste – and
converting them into sustainable raw materials for

diverse applications – there have also been some new
approaches. A company which recycles human hair
and makes mats for oil absorption, or even wearable
wigs, seems super cool. Likewise, the recycling of
paint sounds very exciting. And in a country of 1.4 bil-
lion people who like to worship God and present flo-
ral tributes daily, the idea of collecting used flowers
and converting them into incense sticks and dry
colour powders is equally brilliant.
Developing technology to recycle used sanitary pads,
and making new ones is so impactful.
Recently Forbes ranked India in third place in its annu-
al list of billionaires with more than 200. These 200
come from varied businesses such as infrastructure,
telecommunications, IT, petrochemicals, retail, con-
struction and pharma.
I am not sure if recycling companies were in there.
However, I do know that in the next couple of years
this list will swell with a significant participation from
the recycling sector – new age businesses, as well as
traditional companies, included.

MY OWN HERO
Talking about recycling and its great future – I have
recently realised we have a mega-champion in our
own house. Let me introduce you to Mrs Sujata, our
daily help who arrives at 8.30 sharp every morning.
Over the years she has mastered the art of infusing
life into almost everything redundant or discarded by
the rest of us: taking used clothes, shoes, travel
bags, glass bottles and packaging materials and
turning them into new, aesthetically looking items
that you would certainly want to use again. She has
even made exfoliating face packs from leftover peel-
ings of fruit and vegetables – which, of course,
explains my great looks!

Dhawal Shah

From his home and work base in Mumbai, non-ferrous scrap
trader Dhawal Shah of Metco Ventures shares his thoughts
and observations on how India is becoming the world’s new
recycling frontier.

The new
champions

83_Column Shah.indd 83 24-04-2024 14:29