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.

Who we are

Legislative drivers for the circularity of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs)

Position of EU Recyclers on proposal for a Critical Raw Materials Regulation 

The European Recycling Industry welcomes the European Commission’s (EC) proposal for a Regulation on Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) [COM (2023) 160] and acknowledges the Commission’s commitment to set ambitious measures to boost the circularity of CRMs, which are often indispensable inputs for a wide set of strategic sectors including renewable energy.

This paper outlines the position of the European Recycling Industry on the aforementioned proposal and is meant as a response to the EC open public consultation. EuRIC looks forward to working closely with the European Commission and the co-legislators to ensure the introduction of harmonized rules on critical raw materials that promote the Union’s circular economy targets. The recycling industry stands ready to provide support in the development of delegated acts and implementing provisions.

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