Even amid the Chaos, We Must Act Responsibly

We cannot prevent natural disasters. But we can keep a cool head and ensure that the clean-up work focuses on recycling the materials. Every day, a natural disaster of some magnitude strikes somewhere on Earth. In just moments, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis or volcanic eruptions can destroy what has taken decades to build. In addition, the […]

BIR Global eForum – Shredder Committee: BIR Survey to Shed Light on Top Safety Hazards within Shredder Operations

The BIR Shredder Committee was “very excited” about its first-ever membership survey into shredder-related incidents and injuries, reported its Chairman Alton Scott Newell III of Newell Recycling Equipment in the USA. The questionnaire, the launch of which coincided with the committee’s first-ever eForum session on June 9, would be conducted at the start of every […]

BIR Global eForum – Plastics: Demand-Pull Measures Crucial to Recycling Industry’s Survival

Demand for recycled plastics has been “very weak”, “huge” stocks are overhanging the market and many companies are struggling with “a lack of liquidity”, while at the same time low oil values have driven down prime plastic prices. The end result, according to BIR Plastics Committee Chairman Henk Alssema of Vita Plastics in the Netherlands, […]

BIR Global eForum – Tyres and Rubber: Renewed Threat to Crumb Rubber Use as Infill in Sports Pitches

With impeccable timing, the BIR Tyres & Rubber Committee hosted its first-ever eForum on the day after a high-level committee called for use of crumb rubber as infill for sports pitches to be prohibited. On June 10, the European Chemicals Agency’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) recommended a complete ban on the use of microplastics […]

BIR Global eForum – Paper: Paper Recycling Sector Needs to Be “Supported and Grown”

The paper recycling industry is little more than 20 weeks away from a turning point. China has established itself over recent years as the dominant export outlet for recovered fibre surpluses arising in other parts of the world, but the country will be closing its doors from the end of this year and so final […]

BIR Ferrous Division: 11th Edition of “World Steel Recycling in Figures”

The BIR 2020 May Convention in Istanbul has been postponed to October 2020 owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. That’s why the BIR Ferrous Board today announces the publication of the 11th edition of “World Steel Recycling in Figures” during a meeting via video conference. Divisional President Greg Schnitzer emphasizes his great pleasure in unveiling the […]

COVID-19: Update by BIR Member National Associations: The World Moves Tentatively into Reopening Phase

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, BIR has sought to collate expert feedback on the impact of the virus around the world, with specific regard to how it is affecting the recycling industry. This latest update has been sourced from the world recycling organization’s network of member national associations. Please also check our related […]

Recycling in Vietnam

In Vietnam – like in other Asian countries as well – recycling is handled by the informal sector – either family businesses or small scale enterprises specialized in recycling of waste materials. Jim Selkin, a professional photographer, art director and writer currently working in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), wrote two photo reportages on grassroots […]

Update by BIR Ambassadors: Lockdowns Exert a Stranglehold on Scrap Supply

In the latest of our series of updates on the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, BIR Ambassadors have provided a summary of the impact of the virus on their respective countries and regions, and on the recycling sector in particular. The pandemic is now well controlled in both mainland China and Taiwan; however, some […]

Covid-19 Update: Fragmented Picture for Under-Pressure Recycling Industry

BIR continues to gather expert updates on the impact of COVID-19 on international recycling markets. Even though China, the starting point for the pandemic, has passed its peak of infections and is taking tentative steps towards a return to normality, Europe and many other parts of the world are still a long way from that […]