Share this on social media

Metals recycling in EU could collapse under new rules, companies say

(EurActiv, 4 Jun 2021) Europe’s metals recycling industry could collapse under the European Commission’s proposed changes to waste shipments that clamp down on exports to encourage recycling, members of the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) have warned.

The EU proposals aim to restrict the export of waste materials such as metals, plastics and textiles as part of efforts to increase recycling within the bloc and stop waste being shipped to emerging market countries where it may be dumped rather than recycled.

But BIR members said the regulations would create a surplus of material in Europe and disrupt the flow of scrap metals and other materials to buyers outside the EU.

“The EU Green Deal if carried out in the guise of a ‘one fits all’ approach may have detrimental effects to green recycling in areas such as ours,” European Metal Recycling’s Murat Bayram said during the BIR’s annual World Recycling Convention, taking place online this year.

“Export restrictions would result in nothing short of a collapse of the current strong green infrastructure that relies on unhampered access to end-markets all over the world,” Bayram added.

External link

EurActiv, 4 Jun 2021: Metals recycling in EU could collapse under new rules, companies say