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What we recycle

Plastics

Plastics are composed of polymers i.e., compounds made of many small molecules.

Ferrous metals

Ferrous metals, primarily composed of iron, include materials like steel and cast iron, which are commonly found in construction, manufacturing, and transportation.

Non-Ferrous metals

Non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, and titanium, do not contain iron and are valued for their resistance to corrosion and high conductivity.

Paper

Recycled paper is a versatile material that can replace or supplement virgin pulp to create new products like packaging, newspapers, and insulation.

Textiles

Textiles, including both synthetic fibers like polyester and natural fibers like cotton, are integral to daily life, with global production nearly tripling since 1975.

Tyres

Tyres contain multiple valuable materials such as rubber (75%), steel (15%) and textile fibres (10%).

Construction & Demolition

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste includes materials like concrete, bricks, wood, metals, glass, plastics, and hazardous substances such as asbestos.

End-of-life Vehicles

End-of-life Vehicles (ELVs) contain valuable materials like metals (steel, aluminum), plastics, rubber, and glass, as well as batteries.

E-waste

E-waste, otherwise referred to as waste electronical and electronic equipment (WEEE), is mainly composed of non-ferrous metals (nickel, copper, lead, etc.

Ships

End-of-life ships are decommissioned vessels that contain valuable materials like steel, metals, and electronics, along with hazardous substances such as asbestos, oils, and toxic chemicals.

Explore

Events

Other Events

May 4 2026

IFAT Munich 2026

Other Events

November 4 2025

ECOMONDO 2025

Other Events

October 28 2025

SteelOrbis Fall 2025 Conference & 93rd IREPAS Meeting

Other Events

October 7 2025

Pollutec 2025

Recycling Europe Events

Hamburg Deutschland

October 1 2025

7th European Recycling Conference (ERC) 2025

Recycling Europe Events

March 27 2025

Threading up Europe’s textile circularity: Bridging policy and industry through trade
See All Events

Who we are

The voice of Europe’s recyclers

Our policy work Join us
80+

80+

members

24

24

countries accross Europe

5500+

5500+

companies

300,000

300,000

green & local jobs

95 billion

95 billion

EUR contribution to the EU economy

What we recycle

Our work is guided by seven material-specific Branches—supported by cross-branch working groups and taskforces

Our Latest Publications

Stay informed with our latest insights, anytime, anywhere.

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08 December 2025 | Press releases & statements

Joint call: Prioritising European-made recycled plastic in meeting mandatory recycled content targets

In view of the imminent publication of the Circular Economy Winter-Package by Commissioner Roswall, the undersigned associations call for the prioritisation of European-made[1] recycled plastic to meet the mandatory recycled content targets. Europe cannot achieve its circular economy and climate goals without a viable recycling industry. We have set ambitious targets, invested billions in infrastructure, […]
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28 November 2025 | Press releases & statements

Cross-industry collaboration powering the conversation at Recycling Europe’s CEA event

Brussels, 28 November 2025 – Yesterday’s high-level event on the Circular Economy Act (CEA), organised by Recycling Europe, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, NGOs and experts for a cross-sector conversation on how Europe can translate ambitious circularity goals into practical, scalable industrial solutions. As Olivier François, President of Recycling Europe, emphasised, “The Circular Economy Act is a unique […]
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19 November 2025 | Press releases & statements

Recycling Europe urges ‘numbers, not noise’, as Commission announces plans for aluminium ‘scrap’ trade measures

Brussels, 19 November 2025 – EU Commission Vice-President for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič yesterday announced the launch of preparatory work for a ‘balanced’ trade measure on the alleged “scrap leakage” – to be adopted by spring 2026. Recycling Europe stresses that to date, the EU Commission’s own monitoring has shown no evidence of ‘scrap leakage’. Claims to the contrary are […]
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17 November 2025 | Press releases & statements

Joint Statement: Driving Circularity in the Automotive Sector: Ensuring Ambitious Targets and Rules Equivalence in the ELV Regulation

As interinstitutional negotiations on the proposed End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation (ELVR) advance, the undersigned organisations call on EU institutions to uphold the Regulation’s ambition by maintaining strong recycled content targets, ensuring domestic demand for EU-made recyclates, and introducing a robust mirror clause to ensure full equivalence of rules between EU and non-EU operators. Upholding ambitious requirements […]
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10 November 2025 | Press releases & statements

Recycling Europe unveils manifesto for paper circularity

Brussels, 10 November 2025 – Recycling Europe’s Paper branch (Recycling Europe Paper), representing Europe’s recovered paper collectors and recyclers, has launched its “EU Recyclers’ Manifesto: Removing barriers to paper circularity”, which sets out four key policy actions needed to secure one of Europe’s strongest circular economy value chains. Paper recycling is a longstanding European success story. Every tonne of recovered paper […]
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06 November 2025 | Reports & studies

EU Recyclers’ Manifesto: Removing barriers to paper circularity

Paper recycling is one of Europe’s greatest circular economy achievements. For decades, it has quietly delivered what the Green Deal now aims to scale up: resource savings, lower energy use, reduced CO2 emissions, and sustainable value chains rooted in Europe. Every tonne of recovered paper keeps raw materials in the loop, supports thousands of jobs, and reduces […]
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03 November 2025 | Position papers/letters

Joint Position Paper ‘From flat to circular: Rethinking glass in construction’

Executive Summary Flat glass plays a vital role in the EU’s transition towards a circular and decarbonised economy. With approximately 10 million tonnes of flat glass placed on the market annually – 80% of which is used in the building sector[1] – its end-of-life management presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While the environmental […]
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22 October 2025 | Press releases & statements

ASTRI becomes Friends of Recycling Europe sponsor to boost textile circularity

Brussels, 22 October 2025 – Recycling Europe is delighted to welcome ASTRI as a Friends of Recycling Europe sponsor, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing circular practices in the textiles sector. We are delighted to welcome ASTRI as a Friends of Recycling Europe sponsor. Partnering with forward-thinking actors is key to supporting innovation and advancing […]
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03 October 2025 | Press releases & statements

ERC 2025: Recycling Europe debuts in Hamburg as industry and policymakers confront circular economy challenges

Brussels, 3 October 2025 – The 7th European Recycling Conference (ERC) gathered 140+ industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators in Hamburg for a day of frank discussions on the future of circularity in Europe. Maria Vera Durán, (Recycling Europe), opened the conference by marking a milestone: EuRIC’s debut as Recycling Europe, and stressed that “there is […]
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30 September 2025 | Press releases & statements

EuRIC becomes Recycling Europe: A new name for a stronger voice

Brussels, 30 September 2025 – EuRIC, The European Recycling Industries’ Confederation, is proud to announce its rebranding to Recycling Europe, signalling a pivotal moment in reinforcing  mission: to speak with one voice for Europe’s recycling industry in an increasingly competitive and uncertain global landscape. As Europe navigates rising trade tensions, raw material insecurity, and the […]

Our Network

  • Plastics
  • Tyres
  • Non-Ferrous metals
  • Construction & Demolition
  • Textiles
  • Ferrous metals
  • Paper

Latest Events

Explore the events we host and support, bringing Europe’s recycling leaders in one place.

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04 May 2026 | Other Events

IFAT Munich 2026

It doesn’t matter whether you are a global player or a medium-sized company, a large city or a small municipality. IFAT Munich places a clear focus on recycling and disposal for private-sector and municipal waste management companies—both in the exhibition and in the program. The aim is to identify solutions to close raw material cycles and further advance […]

Collaborations