Market Survey on Copper - Indian Bureau of Mines

scrap is generated from various sources, major being the ship breaking, turning
shavings, copper smelters, electric motors, radiators and from the fabrication industry.
New scrap is generated from the smelters, and from the fabrication industry in
the form of cuttings and shavings. Used electric motors, cable wires and household
utensils and cutlery form a sizeable quantity of scrap. In absence of authentic data, it
is difficult to arrive at some percentage share for scrap type. Recycling is dependent
on the efficiency of the scrap collection system, technological & economic factors ,
product design, social values as well as on the incentives and barriers introduced.
Though the life expectancy of copper based equipments depends upon the actual end
– use, it is seen that copper components of various engineering equipments come
back for recycling after certain years:
(i) Small electric motors - 25 years
(iv) Cable conductors - 30- 40 years
As per ICSG research the simplified route of recycled copper use is given at
Plate 3.V and Plate 3.VI.
Even then attempts were made to arrive at some authentic data in respect of
copper recycling. The generation of scrap within the country as well as imported
scrap is reprocessed in the copper reprocessing units which have been registered with
Central Pollution Control Board /Ministry of Environment & Forest.
As on 13.5.2010, there were 35 units operating in different states with a
combined capacity of 242,321 tonnes/year for handling different types of scrap. The
state wise list of different copper reprocessing units along with their capacities and
type of scrap handling is given in Annexure: 3 - I and the state wise capacities of
reprocessing units is given in following Table: 3.7.
Table: 3.7- State wise Capacities of Copper Reprocessing Units as Registered
with CPCB/MOEF as on 13.5.2010
(Tonnes/Year)
Sl. No. State No. of Units Capacity
1. Andhra Pradesh 4 10,220
2. Chhattisgarh 2 350
3. Daman, Diu & Nagar Haveli 2 20,313
4. Gujarat 7 47,868
5. Haryana 2 11,100
6. Jammu & Kashmir 6 56,450
7. Maharashtra 4 8,090
8. Rajasthan 2 480
9. Sikkim 1 2,700
10. Uttar Pradesh 1 1,500
11 West Bengal 4 83,250
Total 35 242,321
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