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

Publication hub

  • All Publications
  • Position papers/letters
  • Press releases & statements
  • Public consultations & recommendations
  • Reports & studies
Read More

EU Recyclers’ Roadmap: For a circular & future-proof e-waste sector

Between 2012 and 2021, the amount of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) generated in the EU increased from 7 Mt to 8,4 Mt (+ 20%) [1], making WEEE one of the fastest growing waste streams in Europe and globally. WEEE recycling plays a crucial role in decarbonising the WEEE value chain and contributes significantly […]

Read More

EU Recyclers unveil roadmap for a circular and future-proof e-waste sector

Monday, 16 January 2026 – Recycling Europe has unveiled a new roadmap calling for urgent action to increase circularity in Europe’s e-waste sector, as electrical and electronic waste continues to grow rapidly across the EU. While e-waste recycling already delivers major climate and resource benefits, only around 40% of WEEE is currently reported as recycled, […]

Read More

Closing the loop: Mandatory recycled content in textile products placed in the EU – A contribution to the upcoming ecodesign delegated act on textile products

Recycling Europe Textiles (formerly EuRIC Textiles) – the textile reuse and recycling branch of Recycling Europe – welcomes the European Commission’s forthcoming delegated act on ecodesign requirements for textile products under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), as a critical opportunity to introduce forward-looking and impactful measures that can drive circularity in the European […]

Read More

Strengthening the EU ship recycling sector to support circularity and the green transition of the European steel industry

Joint Statement by Recycling Europe, EUROFER, and the NGO Shipbreaking Platform Brussels, 15 December 2025 Technological progress, evolving environmental regulations, vessel ageing, and increasing maintenance costs all play a role in determining the end-of-life (EoL) of the maritime commercial fleet. Studies[1] predict a rise in ship demolitions between 2025 and 2040, with a fivefold increase […]

Read More

ELV trilogues show progress on demand for recycled materials, but recycled plastic target falls short

Brussels, 12 December 2025 – Recycling Europe sees the provisional agreement on the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation as an important step towards a more circular automotive sector in Europe. While the full details of the final text are yet to be unveiled, it is encouraging to see mandatory recycled content targets — based exclusively on post-consumer […]

Read More

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, […]

Read More

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 […]

Read More

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 […]

Read More

Joint Letter: EU green steel label – opposition to a one-size-fits-all approach based on “sliding scale” methodologies or standards

Dear President von der Leyen, Dear Executive Vice-Presidents and Commissioners, We, the undersigned representatives of the European circular steel value chain[1], wish to express our serious concerns about the direction of current discussions on the methodology to label “green steel” and define lead markets in the European Union. We fully support Europe’s climate ambitions for […]

Load More