GANDHINAGAR: India on Tuesday underscored its commitment to embedding circular economy principles into national development planning as the 10th World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) opened in Gandhinagar, with the Union environment minister emphasising regulation, technology and global cooperation as pillars of the transition.
Policy thrust and measurable progress
Addressing the inaugural session of WCEF 2026, which is being held at Mahatma Mandir, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change highlighted Indias steps to mainstream circularity. He pointed to regulatory reforms and digital compliance systems enacted in recent years and flagged the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as a central instrument to close material loops across product life cycles.
As of August 2026, official figures cited at the forum show more than 83,000 producers and 4,802 recyclers registered under EPR frameworks, and around 482.24 lakh metric tonnes of waste processed across regulated waste streams. The minister said these numbers reflect early scaling of the policy architecture, while stressing that circularity ultimately depends on how people consume.
"The true measure of a circular economy was not how much waste was recycled, but how little value was wasted," the minister said at the inauguration.
Frameworks and sectors covered
The environment ministry has notified sector-specific waste management rules covering a wide range of categories: plastic waste, battery waste, e-waste, waste tyres, used oil, end-of-life vehicles, construction and demolition waste, non-ferrous scrap metal and municipal solid waste. A market-based EPR framework under these rules sets obligations for producers, importers, brand owners and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure environmentally sound management of products after end of life.
Speakers at the forum framed EPR as part of a broader shift that includes digital tracking of compliance and incentives for recycling and reuse. The minister also linked circular economy priorities to other national initiatives and international engagements, including Indias BRICS chairship, the India-EU joint framework on circularity and the Mission LiFE campaign to promote sustainable lifestyles.
Participation, themes and practical focus
WCEF 2026 has drawn more than 2,000 stakeholders from over 65 countries, with the event jointly organised by the Union environment ministry, the Central Pollution Control Board, Finlands Innovation Fund Sitra and the Gujarat government. Over two days the forum will host plenary sessions, thematic discussions and an expo showcasing over 125 exhibitors with practical circular business solutions.
The programme includes sessions on the application of AI in circular systems, sustainable finance, governance models, green energy integration and support for start-ups and accelerator networks. Officials described the agenda as oriented toward actionable policies and partnerships that can scale reuse, repair and material recovery.
- EPR registration: >83,000 producers and 4,802 recyclers registered under various frameworks (Aug 2026).
- Waste processed: c. 482.24 lakh metric tonnes across regulated streams.
- Sectors covered: plastics, batteries, e-waste, tyres, used oil, vehicles, construction & demolition, non-ferrous scrap and solid waste.
| Item | Figure (Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| Producers registered under EPR | 83,000+ |
| Recyclers registered | 4,802 |
| Waste processed (across regulated streams) | 482.24 lakh tonnes |
Context and implications
Officials framed the forum as a moment to shift from regulation-as-compliance to regulation-as-enabler, stressing that policy needs to be accompanied by finance, technology transfer and behaviour change to reduce the intrinsic value loss from consumption. They warned that no single actorgovernment, company or communitycan close material loops alone and highlighted the need for cross-border collaboration in knowledge, technology and capital flows.
Speakers also emphasised urban governance and informal sector integration as practical challenges. Implementation of EPR and waste rules requires strengthening municipal systems, digital traceability, credible third-party verification and market mechanisms for secondary materials. The forums sessions on sustainable finance and start-up acceleration aim to connect investors and innovators with proven municipal and industrial pilots that can be scaled.
By placing circularity alongside ecosystem restoration and adaptation in international fora such as BRICS, the government seeks to anchor the transition in both national planning and diplomatic engagement. The WCEF expo and accelerator events intend to surface replicable business models that can reduce waste generation, improve resource efficiency and create jobs in recycling and remanufacturing.
With momentum from policy instruments such as EPR and digital compliance, the key tests will be enforcement consistency, availability of recycling infrastructure, and the economic viability of secondary material markets. Delegates said that success will require sustained investment in technology, capacity building and incentives that align producer responsibility with consumer convenience and municipal capability.
