Organised by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India and powered by Attero, the 6th edition of WasteTech India Forum convened policymakers, scientists, investors and industry leaders to chart actionable pathways for India’s circular economy. A key highlight of the summit was the launch of the Knowledge Paper, “Critical Mineral Security in India: The Circular Pathway,” developed in collaboration with the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The report outlines strategies to reduce import dependency through urban mining, strengthen domestic recycling ecosystems and enable high-value material recovery from e-waste.
The forum was inaugurated by distinguished guests who included:
· Leena Nandan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India, Government of India & Distinguished Fellow, TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute;
· Dr. Ewa Suwara, Deputy Head of Delegation & Chargé d’affaires a.i., Delegation of the European Union to India
· Dr.Vishal Choudhary, Scientist ‘F’, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India;
· Mandeep Gusain, President – Operations, Attero
· Surendra Kumar Gotherwal, Scientist E, Electronics Materials and Components Division (EMCD), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Govt. of India;
· Mragank Jain, Managing Partner, Global South Capital
· Kushal Sharma, Head - Conference Division and Member - Extended Board of Management, Messe Frankfurt India
The session featured influential voices from government and the private sector who emphasised the urgent need to align policy, technology and finance to scale India’s e-waste ecosystem. Deliberations through the sessions brought together diverse perspectives – from science and policy to finance and global cooperation. Dr Vishal Choudhary highlighted the role of advanced research and data-driven systems in optimising material recovery while Mr Surendra Kumar Gotherwal emphasised indigenous R&D and policy frameworks to support domestic recycling capabilities, Mr Mragank Jain underscored the growing investor interest in e-waste as a high-potential asset class and Dr Ewa Suwara highlighted the importance of global collaboration and technology exchange in building resilient supply chains, Setting the broader vision, Leena Nandan called for stronger alignment between policy and implementation to position e-waste recycling as a cornerstone of India’s resource security.
Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director & Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, expressed: “India’s rapid growth in electronics consumption is making effective e-waste management increasingly important. As the country strengthens its recycling ecosystem, the role of advanced recycling and urban mining will become critical in recovering valuable materials and reducing dependence on primary resources. Initiatives such as WasteTech India Forum 2026 help spotlight the opportunities within e-waste as India moves towards a more resource-secure and circular economy.”
Likewise, Mr Nitin Gupta, CEO & Co-Founder, Attero, underscored that India’s e-waste ecosystem is at an inflection point, driven by rapid digitalisation and evolving policy frameworks. He stressed the need for stronger implementation, greater traceability and the expansion of formal recycling infrastructure to unlock value from materials such as lithium-ion batteries and precious metals.
Additionally, Mr Satya Tripathi, Secretary General, Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet, highlighted that scaling formal collection systems and enforcing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) can transform e-waste into a domestic source of critical minerals while addressing environmental challenges. Mr Rohan Gupta, COO & Co-Founder, Attero, further emphasised the role of advanced technologies, noting that innovation in recovery processes and digital platforms is critical to formalising supply chains and building scalable circular systems.
Technical keynote sessions highlighted the importance of scientific innovation in material recovery, the role of data-driven frameworks in scaling circularity and the growing investor interest in e-waste as a high-potential asset class. International perspectives reinforced the need for global cooperation and standardisation, particularly in the context of India’s expanding electronics and semiconductor manufacturing ambitions.
With India accelerating towards a digital and manufacturing-led economy, WasteTech India Forum 2026 reinforced that e-waste management is no longer a downstream issue but a strategic lever for resource security and economic resilience.
For more information, updated event, agenda and more, please visit:
Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd
https://www.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/press/boilerplate.html
Sustainability at Messe Frankfurt
https://www.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/press/boilerplate.html#sustainability
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