Eco Recycling Forms ERI India JV for E-Waste Growth

Eco Recycling approves proposed ERI partnership

Eco Recycling Ltd, also known as Ecoreco, has approved a proposal to form a 50:50 joint venture in India with Electronic Recyclers International Inc. (ERI) of the US. The planned venture is named ERI India and is intended to provide e-waste recycling and information technology asset disposition, or ITAD, services. The board proposal was disclosed on July 20, 2026, subject to statutory and regulatory approvals. Ecoreco also considered the final execution text of a shareholders agreement and an operating agreement for the proposed entity. The partnership brings together a publicly listed Indian e-waste management company and a US electronics recycling and ITAD operator. It is relevant for Ecoreco because the arrangement adds ERI's technology and operating capabilities to its domestic collection, processing and compliance network. The company has also referred to an NSE listing announcement, although the supplied disclosures do not provide terms or a timeline for that matter.

ERI India is structured as an equal venture

The proposed company will be jointly owned by Ecoreco and ERI, with each party holding 50%. According to the information released around the partnership, ERI India is expected to operate from Mumbai and serve customers across India. ERI said the venture would be its first co-owned and ERI-branded location in India. The US company has audited ITAD and recycling partners in more than 140 countries, but the India venture represents a direct ownership arrangement rather than a partner audit relationship. Ecoreco contributes an established presence in India, including infrastructure, logistics networks and regional market knowledge. The formal structure is important because it sets out shared ownership while allowing both companies to contribute distinct operating resources. The venture remains linked to the approvals and definitive documentation outlined in the board meeting outcome.

What each partner will contribute

ERI is expected to provide recycling technology, secure data-destruction capabilities, chain-of-custody tracking systems, advanced shredding and operating standards. The company has also highlighted AI-driven sorting technology as part of the capabilities associated with the partnership. These services are particularly relevant to businesses disposing of used information technology equipment that may contain confidential data. Ecoreco is expected to provide local sourcing, regulatory knowledge, commercial access and logistics networks. It already offers reverse logistics, e-waste recycling, ITAD, secure data destruction, extended producer responsibility compliance, lithium-ion battery recycling and resource recovery. Ecoreco also operates R2- and ISO-certified facilities, according to the supplied material. The proposed operating model is designed to track electronics from collection through processing and to recover materials for reuse.

Timeline disclosed by the companies

The sequence of announcements shows the project moving from board consideration to public launch communications. Ecoreco's board considered the joint venture proposal and definitive agreements in July 2026. On August 31, 2026, the company said it had laid the foundation for the proposed ERI India venture. Other partnership materials described ERI India as launching later in 2026, while a statement attributed to ERI's communications director said the Mumbai facility was scheduled to begin operating on September 1. The supplied disclosures do not provide a later operating update, commissioning confirmation or detailed financial terms. As a result, the available information supports the partnership's formation and planned operating purpose, but not a conclusion on current revenue contribution.

Why India is central to the arrangement

ERI identified India as the world's third-largest e-scrap producer, behind China and the US. This makes domestic collection, processing and recovery capacity significant for recycling operators. The supplied material also states that Indian law bans shipment of e-scrap into or out of the country. That restriction means ERI requires an in-country operating arrangement to access Indian end-of-life electronics rather than importing material for processing elsewhere. Ecoreco's local footprint therefore forms a central part of the partnership. The companies have said ERI India will seek to keep materials out of landfills, recycle them responsibly and return recovered material to the circular economy. Their stated focus includes recovering resources from electronics already present in India.

Link to ITAD and secure data management

ITAD covers the handling, tracking, data sanitisation and disposal of used technology assets. For corporates, manufacturers and public institutions, the service can be important when computers, storage devices and other equipment reach end of life. Ecoreco already serves corporations, manufacturers, government institutions and other stakeholders, according to the information provided. ERI's data-destruction and asset-tracking systems are intended to add to these services. The joint venture has described its proposed process as transparent and closed-loop, from collection through processing. No customer contracts, capacity figures or investment amounts were disclosed in the supplied announcements. Investors therefore have visibility on the strategic scope of the venture but not on its near-term order pipeline or financial scale.

Ecoreco's recent financial context

At Ecoreco's annual general meeting, the chairman cited FY26 income of ₹53 crore and profit before tax of ₹31.5 crore. The chairman also referred to the proposed ERI India joint venture and critical mineral recovery plans. These figures provide context for the company's existing business before any separately reported impact from ERI India. The supplied data does not state whether the FY26 income or profit before tax includes contributions from the proposed venture. It also does not specify the venture's capital commitment, expected turnover, profitability target or accounting treatment. The financial importance of the partnership will therefore depend on disclosures made after operational activity begins and on the terms of the definitive agreements.

Resource recovery and circular economy focus

The partnership is positioned around recovery of materials from discarded electronics, including resources that can be reused in manufacturing. Ecoreco's chairman, B.K. Soni, said the companies aim to combine ERI's advanced technologies and global standards with Ecoreco's infrastructure and regional networks. He also linked the initiative to India's resource security and its focus on critical minerals. The companies have not disclosed which specific minerals, volumes or recovery rates ERI India will target. Still, the stated strategy reflects a wider industry focus on extracting value from secondary materials rather than treating end-of-life devices only as waste. Ecoreco's existing portfolio, which includes lithium-ion battery recycling and resource recovery, gives the venture a relevant operational base in this area.

Market relevance and next disclosures

For Ecoreco, the arrangement broadens its technology and ITAD proposition while retaining a 50% ownership position in the new entity. For ERI, it creates access to the Indian market through a local operator in a country where cross-border e-scrap movement is restricted. The partnership may also strengthen service options for organisations seeking documented asset handling, secure data destruction and recycling support within India. However, the disclosures do not quantify the expected impact on Ecoreco's revenue, profit, capacity or market share. Market participants will need to monitor statutory approvals, execution of the shareholders and operating agreements, and confirmation of operating commencement. Further company disclosures should clarify the venture's commercial milestones, financial commitments and initial scope of operations.