Food Recycling License in India

“Industries such as hotels, restaurants, manufacturing plants, and food packaging plants generate food waste. Some industries continue to use packaged food items past their expiry date…”

Overview of Food Recycling License

In India, the problem of food waste is a modern problem. Every year, nearly forty per cent of the produced food is wasted in India due to the fragmented food systems and insufficient supply chains as per the Estimation of the FAO, Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Despite an adequate food production, the UN has reported that approximately 190 million Indians remain undernourished. It is also estimated that the food waste is around Rs. 92,000 crores per annum in India.

There is a significant amount of food generated in our homes. According to the Food Waste Index Report 2021, a straight 50 kg of food is thrown away per person every year in India. This wastage of food ends up in landfills, creating the potent greenhouse gas which has so many dire environmental effects. The total amount of food wasted in 20211 is 817,000 tonnes, 23% more than that of food waste generated in 2020. As the amount of food waste increased, the food waste recycling also increased, and so the recycling rate for food waste is still at 19%.

Food Waste Management Hierarchy

Followings are the hierarchy of steps taken in Food Waste Management:

  • Prevention and Reduction of Food Wastage at source
  • Redistribution of unsold or excess food
  • Recycling or treatment of food waste
  • Compost i.e., Final Product

Food waste in landfills generates methane, a greenhouse gas. By composting the food waste and other organics, methane emissions can be reduced. Compost reduces and also eliminates the need for any chemical fertilizers. Compost also promotes the higher yields of agricultural crops.

Benefits of the Composting Food Waste

The following are the benefits of Composting the waste food:

  • Prevents soil erosion
  • Promote plant growth
  • Healthier plants
  • Conserve water
  • Reduce waste
  • Improves soil quality
  • Decrease emission of greenhouse gas
  • Minimize the odours in agricultural areas

Documents Required for Food Recycling License

The list of Documents required for the Food Recycling Business is:

  • A covering requisition letter stating the status of the industry and activities.
  • Copy of the attested sale deed, lease deed or any other relevant Documents as proof of possession of the site or factory.
  • Copy of attested MOA in case of public or private sectors or registered partnership deed in case of partnership company.
  • Plan layout showing the location of process equipment, utilities like boiler, generator, etc., effluent treatment plant, outlet location, and non-hazardous and hazardous waste storage yard.
  • Schematic diagram showing the distance of water bodies, roads, residential areas, agricultural lands, religious locations, educational institutions, ancient monuments, archaeological places and other sensitive areas around the unit in 2km radium from such unit.
  • The manufacturing process in detail for each product, along with the detailed flow chart.
  • Auditor’s certificate with the breakup details for the proposed Gross fixed assets duly certified by a CA along with financial provisions for the Pollution Control Measures.
  • PAN Card or Aadhar Card.
  • Utility bills.
  • GST Registration
  • Factory License

Procedure for the Food Recycling License

The Food Recycling License means the NOC or the Contest to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from the Pollution Control Board. The procedure required for obtaining the Food Recycling License, i.e., CTE and CTO, is as follows:

  • Filing of Application in the appropriate Form for grant of Food Recycling License.
  • Every state has its own Pollution Control Board, and the applicant needs to fill out the application form to the concerned State Pollution Control Board.
  • The applicant files an application with the requisite Documents and information.
  • The application is submitted to the concerned authority such as General Manager, Member-Secretary or Regional Officers, etc.
  • The authority inspects the premises where the business is carried out and, after such inspection, rejects or accepts the application for Food Recycling License.
  • If the application is accepted, then the board issues the Food Recycling License to the applicant.

Regalliance Assistance for obtaining Food Recycling License

  • Purchase a Plan for Expert Assistance
  • Add Queries Regarding Food Recycling License
  • Provide Documents to Regalliance Expert
  • Prepare application + Complete all Admissibility Criteria for Preliminary Screening
  • Complete Procedural Actions
  • Get your work Done