New Circular Economy Package: European recyclers see scope for greater ambition
EuRIC welcomes the publication of the circular economy package by the European Commission as a first step to support sustainable growth in Europe.
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
Brussels, Belgium
June 24 2026
Textiles Recycling Expo 2026
Recycling Europe Events
IFEMA, Madrid
June 10 2026
European Recycling Conference (ERC) 2026
Recycling Europe Events
Brussels, Belgium
May 27 2026
Securing Europe’s clean transition through e-waste circularity
Other Events
May 4 2026
IFAT Munich 2026
Other Events
Estrel Hotel, Berlin, Germany
April 14 2026
28th International Recovered Paper Conference
Other Events
Hamburg, Germany
March 25 2026
IARC 2026 – Hamburg
Who we are
