EuRIC Urges Swift Deal and no EPR for Second-hand

EU Environment Ministers have adopted the Council’s position on the targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), covering food and textile waste. With interinstitutional negotiations poised to begin, and the obligation to separately collect used textiles starting in January 2025, EuRIC Textiles urges swift action to reach a deal before the end of the […]

Industry’s Role in Helping to Solve Major Challenges

Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Industry Group publishes report detailing the industry’s role in helping to solve three major challenges in Europe: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting a circular economy and improving energy security.   The report, entitled “The Role of Waste Derived Fuel in the EU’s Energy and Resources Transition” presents evidence which reflects the positive […]

ELTs Make Leap from Environmental Headache to Source of In-Demand

In a relatively short period of time, pyrolysis has evolved from having “a very bad reputation” to becoming “a real solution” for end-of-life tyres (ELTs) through its increasingly sophisticated delivery of a range of highly sustainable raw materials, declared Robert Weibold in his opening remarks to the BIR Tyres & Rubber Committee session in Copenhagen […]

Step Up Collection, Incentivise Consumers and Link WEEE with Ecodesign, Echoes EuRIC’s E-waste Recycling Event

On 3 June, EuRIC’s e-waste recycling event “Plug into sustainability: E-waste recycling”, brought together around 100 participants and various stakeholders to address the challenges in advancing circularity in electronic waste and chart the way forward for increased material recovery in the EU. Tess Pozzi, Chair of EuRIC’s WEEE working group and Head of EU Public Affairs at Derichebourg […]

Recycling Given Welcome Prominence in EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act

The pivotal role of recycling in guaranteeing a sustainable supply of critical raw materials (CRMs) was emphasized at the meeting of BIR’s International Environment Council in Copenhagen on May 29. Julia Blees, Secretary General of the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation, underlined the level of prioritization given to securing CRM supplies when noting that the EU’s […]

Super-rapid Market Insights Using Satellite Technology

At the BIR Ferrous Division’s latest session on May 28, guest speaker Atilla Widnell invited his audience into the fascinating and ultra-modern world of end-to-end supply chain monitoring from space. The Managing Director of Singapore-based Navigate Commodities explained how his company was using powerful satellite-based technologies to track everything from smelter activity and asset development […]

Collaborative Approach Essential if Vital Material Flows Are to Be Safeguarded

The latest session of the BIR International Trade Council (ITC) would be devoted to “a subject that has generated a great deal of passion”, stated Michael Lion, President of Hong Kong-based Everwell Resources Ltd, in his introductory comments of the session, which he chaired and moderated. The ensuing hour was to prove his point as […]

Appointment of New Convention Committee Chairman: Brian Henesey Joins BIR’s Leadership Team

BIR President Susie Burrage OBE has appointed Brian Henesey as new Chairman of the organisation’s Convention Committee. Brian Henesey brings a wealth of experience and passion for the recycling industry to this crucial role, with over 30 years of experience in the recycled materials industry. Currently, he is Vice President and General Manager at Rocky […]

ESWET Welcomes Landmark EU Parliament Vote on Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA)

On April 25, the European Parliament passed the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), recognising and strengthening Waste-to-Energy’s role towards a greener Europe. ESWET* welcomes the EU’s ambition that led to this bold move and acknowledges the cooperation of the European institutions to get this legislation over the line. NZIA will accelerate the deployment of technology […]

Mechanical Recycling Must Take Priority and Be Incentivized

Chemical recycling needs careful consideration and well-informed, market-based policies to ensure that it complements rather than competes with traditional recycling methods, it has been stressed by the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) in its latest position paper. Mechanical recycling must remain the preferred method on a large scale whereas chemical recycling should be used only […]