India’s shift towards a circular economy is being led not just by policy or infrastructure, but by visionary leaders who are redefining how waste is perceived, as a resource, not a liability. Across metals, plastics, e-waste, and emerging materials, these leaders are building scalable, compliant, and future-ready businesses that are shaping the next phase of recycling companies in India.
Here’s a closer look at 10 leaders driving this transformation:
1. Kamlesh Jain – Chairman & MD, Jain Resource Recycling
At the forefront of India’s metal recycling ecosystem is Kamlesh Jain, a leader with over three decades of experience in the non-ferrous metals industry. As Chairman and Managing Director of Jain Resource Recycling, he has been instrumental in transforming a legacy metal business into one of India’s most integrated scrap recycling company operations.
His journey reflects a clear strategic shift, from trading to large-scale recycling and value-added processing. Beginning with scrap imports in the early 2000s, he led the establishment of lead, copper, aluminium, and cable recycling units, creating a vertically integrated ecosystem that serves industries such as automotive, infrastructure, and energy storage.
What sets Kamlesh Jain apart is his long-term perspective: recycling is not just an opportunity, but a necessity for sustainable industrial growth. This philosophy continues to position him among the most influential leaders shaping recycling companies in India today.
2. Rajat Agrawal – Managing Director, Gravita India
Rajat Agrawal has played a key role in scaling Gravita India into a globally recognised recycling enterprise. Starting with a strong base in lead recycling, the company has expanded into plastics, rubber, and aluminium, building a diversified recycling portfolio.
Under his leadership, Gravita has strengthened its international sourcing network while maintaining robust domestic processing capabilities. The company’s ability to operate across geographies and materials makes it one of the most resilient players among large recycling companies in India, particularly in the metals segment.
8. Sandeep Patel – Founder, NEPRA
Sandeep Patel has played a crucial role in organising India’s dry waste management ecosystem. Through NEPRA, he has built a large-scale platform for waste collection, segregation, and recycling, working closely with municipalities and brands.
His work strengthens the foundational supply chain of recycling, ensuring that quality waste streams reach processing units efficiently – a critical gap in India’s recycling infrastructure.
4. Nitin Gupta – CEO & Co-founder, Attero Recycling
Nitin Gupta has positioned Attero Recycling at the forefront of India’s e-waste and battery recycling sector. Attero is one of the few companies globally with proprietary technology to extract high-purity metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel from electronic waste and lithium-ion batteries.
His work is particularly significant in the context of India’s EV and clean energy transition. By focusing on critical metal recovery, Gupta is helping reduce dependence on imports while strengthening India’s position in the global circular economy.
5. Mani Vajipeyajula – CEO, Banyan Nation
Mani Vajipeyajula leads Banyan Nation, a technology-driven plastic recycling company focused on producing high-quality recycled granules for use in FMCG, automotive, and consumer applications.
Under his leadership, the company has emphasised data-driven traceability, consistent quality, and supply chain transparency, helping bridge the gap between informal waste collection and industrial-grade recycled materials. This approach has positioned Banyan Nation as a credible innovator within recycling companies in India.
6. Vimal Kedia – Manjushree Technopack (Recycling Division)
Vimal Kedia, Managing Director at Manjushree Technopack, has been a key force in integrating sustainability into packaging through recycled materials. Under his leadership, Manjushree Technopack has strengthened its focus on recycled plastics, aligning with growing regulatory and corporate demand for sustainable packaging solutions.
His work highlights how recycling is no longer a standalone activity but is increasingly embedded within manufacturing and product design.
7. Sharad Sharma – Managing Director & CEO, Ganesha Ecosphere
Sharad Sharma leads Ganesha Ecosphere, one of India’s largest PET (polyethylene terephthalate) recycling companies. The company converts post-consumer plastic bottles into recycled polyester fibres used across textiles and packaging.
Under his leadership, the company has scaled operations while maintaining quality and consistency, making it a key player in plastic recycling in India. The foundation laid by founder Shyam Sunder Sharmma continues to guide its long-term vision.
8. Dr. Binish Desai – Founder & CEO, NuoTerra Innovations
Widely known as the “Recycle Man of India”, Dr. Binish Desai stands out as one of the most inspiring innovators in India’s sustainability and recycling ecosystem. Beginning his journey at just 11 years old with simple experiments using chewing gum and paper, he went on to build a remarkable career in industrial waste recycling and environmental innovation.
He has developed over 150 eco-products under his Eco Eclectic Technologies initiative, transforming industrial waste into usable, scalable solutions across sectors. Through his ventures, including B-Dream Labs and now NuoTerra Innovations, Dr. Desai has recycled more than 6,500 tonnes of industrial waste, demonstrating how innovation-led recycling can drive both environmental and social impact. His work gained global recognition during the pandemic, when he pioneered the recycling of PPE kits, earning him the Covid Hero Youth Icon of the Year (2020) and a feature in the WHO Bulletin.
At the core of his work lies a simple yet powerful belief: “There is nothing useless in this world; what might be a waste to you is someone else’s asset” – a philosophy that continues to reshape how India views waste, recycling, and circularity.
9. Sanjay Mehta – Director, MTC Group & President, Material Recycling Association of India
Sanjay Mehta is a prominent force in India’s metal recycling ecosystem, combining decades of industry experience with a strong vision for organised, large-scale scrap management. As Director of the MTC Group since 1989, he has played a pivotal role in transforming the company into one of India’s largest ferrous scrap collection and processing enterprises.
Today, MTC Group stands as a 50-year-old pioneer in metal scrap recycling, operating an extensive network of 18 scrap yards across the country. Under his leadership, the Group has built robust supply chains by sourcing scrap from automobile manufacturers, ancillary units, and engineering industries, ensuring a steady flow of recyclable material into India’s industrial ecosystem.
Mehta also serves as the President of the Material Recycling Association of India, where he actively advocates for policy reforms, formalisation of the recycling sector, and the adoption of global best practices.
Known for his forward-thinking approach and commitment to sustainability, he continues to champion the idea that organised recycling is not just an environmental necessity, but a critical pillar of India’s industrial growth and circular economy.
10. B K Soni – Chairman, Eco Recycling Ltd. (Ecoreco)
B K Soni has been a key figure in formalising India’s e-waste recycling sector. Under his leadership, Ecoreco has built compliant, transparent systems for handling electronic waste.
His focus on governance, traceability, and environmental responsibility has helped bring structure to the e-waste segment.
The Bigger Shift: From Waste Management to Resource Strategy
What connects all these leaders is a shared shift in mindset. Recycling is no longer treated as waste disposal, it is now a strategic lever for resource security, cost efficiency, and sustainability.
From large-scale metal processors to technology-led startups, recycling companies in India are evolving into integrated industrial players. Leaders like Kamlesh Jain exemplify how a scrap recycling company can scale into a multi-material, globally relevant enterprise, while others are pushing boundaries in plastics, e-waste, and circular supply chains.
Together, they are shaping the foundation of India’s circular economy.
