Recycling: Worldwide Solutions for the Circular Economy

On March 18, the Global Recycling Day took place – an annual event that aims to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and encourage people to take action to reduce waste and protect the environment. The day brings together individuals, organizations, and governments from around the world to promote sustainable practices and highlight the benefits of recycling.

As underlined by the Global Recycling Foundation, that promotes Global Recycling Day, recycling is a key part of the circular economy and recognized in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030. “Each year the ‘Seventh Resource’ (recyclables) saves over 700 million tons in CO2 emissions and this is projected to increase to 1 billion tons by 2030. There is no doubt recycling is on the front line in the war to save the future of our planet and humanity.”

Some days later, there was another awareness day: To address the 2022 waste crisis, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 30 as International Day of Zero Waste. During this event, member states, organizations, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders are invited to engage in activities to encourage adopting sustainable consumption and production practices, fostering the transition to circularity, and raising awareness about the role of zero-waste initiatives. Having an active role in various EU-funded projects in the field of circular economy, ICONS (a private Italian group that develops large-scale projects in the field of science innovation and culture) took also part in this year’s event with a joint social media campaign – labeled #CircularWasteEU – in collaboration with eight European projects.

The well-known trade fair IFAT Munich, taking place in the Munich exhibition halls from May 13 to 17, 2024, will feature top-class speakers, more international exhibitors, and a varied event program, according to the organizers. “At the world’s leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management, visitors can expect innovative environmental technologies, flanked by panel discussions, expert lectures, and live demonstrations.”

In this issue of GLOBAL RECYCLING, you can also find interesting information regarding recycling. In Africa, there are more than one opportunities in the field of waste management (page 3). For example, the Republic of Ghana is on the road to circular economy (page 27 onward). The waste-to-energy technology on the African continent is growing as well (page 22 onward). As for the technical side of the recycling practice, we recommend the solutions presented in this Machinery section from page 38 onward.

We hope you get a lot of new and useful information from reading this current magazine.

Yours, Brigitte Weber