An Inclusive and Effective End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling System in India: Balancing Economy and Ecology from Grave to Cradle

End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) in India are often recycled by car-breaking yards operating in the informal sector. In the absence of well-established, state-of-the-art ELV mechanisms, their work – ensures the crucial recycling of ELVs. Multiple qualitative analysis methods, such as desk study, literature review, and field visits, are utilized. Our study shows the following: car-breaking yards frequently work in an inefficient manner causing environmental hazards and health risks; the replacement policy adopted during vehicle servicing by Original Equipment Manufacturers and Authorized Dealers results in inefficient material use; Informal actors such as Private workshop owners and Reconditioning shops enable significant savings in material and costs, partly by substituting capital and energy with labor. We propose an inclusive 3R (reuse, recondition, and recycle) framework, which integrates various informal actors involved in ELV recycling. This sustainability-oriented framework ensures that the components and materials circulate in a closed loop.