Key takeaways

The amount of plastic waste has increased in the past few years because of an increase in the plastic production.

The business opportunities in plastic waste recycling is growing in the current global environment.

This is an ideal business opportunity for those who are interested in manufacturing and building long term growth.

Bonus tip:

Do you know? According to the research and study done by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of the Government of India, the amount of solid waste created in India every year is 1,45,000 metric tonnes. Out of this amount, 35% is dry waste.

There is plastic everywhere and so is the opportunity to turn waste into business. The recycling business has increased in the past few years because of the increase in plastic production. Industries and governments are compelled to recycle because of the difficulty in managing the plastic waste.

The main factors which are behind the increased growth of recycling sectors are, more environmental awareness, strict regulations of plastic management and increased use of recycled plastic. In India and many other countries, the increased urbanisation and plastic use as well as government policies that support such practices, are contributing to the growth of this recycling industry.

Reasons to start recycling business

Starting a recycling business is highly profitable. Below are some reasons to start a recycling business:

Reasons	Description
Environment concerns and government support	With the growth in population, there is an increase in the waste production. This makes it important to do effective waste management. For example, many government policies like the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan (clean India mission) of 2014, are introduced to make a clean and open defecation free India. The recycling business is growing because of government policies, increased public awareness of environmental issues.
Expanded market for recycled products	With an increase in environmental awareness, there is an increase in the demand for eco-friendly products and recycled items. This makes recycling an ideal business.
Resource efficiency	The main motivation to start a recycling business is that there is an efficient amount of resources to start the business along with the waste reduction in the environment. For example, You can help maintain forests and reduce the need for increased logging by recycling paper and cardboard.
Increased profit by adopting sustainability	The growing focus on sustainability as encouraged by the government policies as well, creates a better environment for recycling businesses to grow. By aligning with EPR guidelines, your recycling business can develop a strong partnership with manufacturers who are committed to sustainable practices.

These are some of the key reasons to start a recycling business in India.

Best recycling business ideas

There are many recycling business ideas in India and some of them are as follows:

Plastic recycling business ideas	Description	Startup investment required	Expected profit potential
Paper recycling	The idea of recycling paper waste to make material like new paper goods, notebooks, cardboards and tissues. These are eco-friendly products made from paper recycling.	₹7,00,000 to ₹15,00,000	₹1,00,000 or above per month
Recycling plastic waste to create packaging material	This plastic recycling business is an ideal recycling business as there is a great need for eco-friendly packaging material. It involves cleaning and collecting plastic waste and then converting it into pellets.	₹7,00,000 to ₹15,00,000	₹1,00,000 or above per month
Glass recycling business	Glass can be 100% recycled without any loss of its purity and quality. You can make recycled glass windows, jars and bottles.	₹10,00,000 to ₹20,00,000	Up to ₹3,00,000 per month
Textile recycling business	It is possible to use the old and damaged textiles to create new clothes and yarn. Today, this is a profitable business in the field of recycling.	₹5,00,000 to ₹10,00,000	Up to ₹1,00,000 per month

These are some of the best recycling business ideas to start. There are many more like using plastic waste in road construction, recycling plastic waste into granules etc. you can start your recycling business with no money by focusing only on collecting,sorting and selling high value materials. You just have to focus on no money recycling business investment like scavenging, community drives or partnership with local businesses into this field.

Key factors to consider before starting recycling business

Refer the below key factors to consider before starting a recycling business:

Factors	Description
Market research	Do a complete research on your target audience whether it is domestic or export market, look at long run trends of demand.
Type of manufacturing	Start your manufacturing business according to your expertise and interest.
Location and infrastructure	It is important that you select the correct transportation networks to ensure smooth productivity. Check if the location of your business has proper utilities like electricity, water and compliance with zone regulations.
Investment and planning	Prepare a detailed business plan to act upon. Look for different investment options like bank loans, government policies or schemes.
Workforce and skills	Hire highly skilled professionals with the correct expertise according to your business. Provide them training to have knowledge regarding the correct use of the equipment and machinery to recycle the waste.

You have to keep yourself updated with the above factors before starting a recycling business.

Advantages and disadvantages of starting a recycling business

Below are some advantages and disadvantages of starting a recycling business:

Advantages	Disadvantages
There is flexibility of time. You can give as much time to the business. If you have some initial business, you can start small and manage all the work on your own to save some cost.	In the recycling business, competition is relatively high which makes it harder for new businesses to retain and grow in the market.
The recycling business gives you the ability to work from your home. At least in the beginning, you can start from your own place.	Although it is an exciting business, you have to come out of your comfort zone, take on more responsibilities and tasks.
This is a meaningful business idea as it promotes environmental awareness and creates eco friendly products.	It is difficult to find different and innovative ideas to scale your recycling business.
The more skills and expertise you have of your business idea, you can make your recycling business more profitable.	You have to be updated with the consumer needs for the latest eco-friendly products and sometimes make yourself 24/7 available.
There is a large consumer base for recycling business. People are demanding more eco-friendly products.	It takes a long time to grow a recycling business.

These are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the recycling business.

Conclusion:

Overall, a recycling business is good for the environment as there is an increased production of waste. There is an increase in the demand for eco-friendly products. Apart from the advantages, there are several disadvantages as well to start a recycling business like it takes a long time to grow this business as there is a lot of competition in the market.

FAQs:

What is the one advantage of starting a recycling business?

There is flexibility of time. You can give as much time to the business. If you have some initial business, you can start small and manage all the work on your own to save some cost.

Is the glass recycling business profitable?

Yes, the glass recycling business is profitable as there is an increased demand for eco-friendly products.

Is the recycling business profitable?

Yes, the recycling business is profitable as there is an efficient amount of resources to start the business along with the waste reduction in the environment.

What are the best profitable recycling businesses?

There are many profitable recycling businesses like using plastic waste in road construction, recycling plastic waste into granules etc.

Which waste recycling business is more profitable in India?

In India, plastic recycling is the most profitable recycling business in India as it gives moderate to high gross margins, and there is an increased use of eco-friendly products.