India's Carton Recycling Soars to 63.66%!

India has achieved a remarkable milestone in waste management, with its used beverage carton (UBC) recycling rate more than doubling over the last decade. The latest study from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) reveals an impressive increase from 29% in 2011 to 63.66% in 24 surveyed cities by 2025. This surge translates to an estimated national recycling rate of 48%, indicating that nearly half of all beverage cartons are now being recycled.

This progress is largely a result of concerted efforts by organizations like Tetra Pak and the broader industry, focusing on enhanced collection infrastructure, strategic partnerships with recyclers, and impactful consumer awareness campaigns. The study highlights cities like Lucknow, Pune, and Bengaluru as exemplars, benefiting from strong collection centers and dedicated recycler networks. The growth in pure stream recycling further underscores the strengthening of dedicated collection and recycling systems nationwide.

TERI recommends further strategies to boost recycling, including innovation in recycled product development, incentivizing waste dealers, enhancing paper mill capacity for multi-material packaging, promoting source segregation, and reinforcing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies. These recommendations aim to accelerate India's transition towards a more circular and sustainable economy, ensuring that a greater number of cartons are integrated back into the value chain.