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.

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Recycling Europe’s guide for a Circular Economy Act that delivers

EU Recyclers’ DO’s and DON’TS for the CEA Circularity is no longer a niche environmental ambition. It is fast becoming a defining pillar of Europe’s industrial strategy. Amid mounting geopolitical pressures, volatile supply chains, and climate emergencies, the ability to retain materials, reduce resource dependence, and lower emissions has moved to the core of EU […]

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Revision of the rules on single-use plastics (SUPD): EU Recyclers’ recommendations

In this paper, Recycling Europe sets out a series of recommendations to strengthen the implementation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) and to support forthcoming legislation aimed at advancing the circular economy for plastics:

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Recycling Europe’s feedback on the Call for Evidence:“EU aluminium sector – trade measure to ensure sufficient availability of aluminium scrap on the EU market”

As the EU explores options to reinforce industrial competitiveness and material security, it is essential thatpolicy choices are grounded in robust evidence and a holistic view of the value chain. Europe’s metalrecycling industry already plays a critical role in supplying high-quality recycled materials, exceedingdomestic demand and contributing to a positive trade balance. Against this backdrop, […]

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EU Waste Shipment Regulation: What’s changing for EU waste exports?

The new EU Waste Shipment Regulation (EU WSR) was published in the EU Official Journal on 30 April and entered into force on 20 May 2024. This Regulation has been adopted as part of the EU Green Deal and new Circular Economy Action Plan with the aim to (1) ensure environmentally sound management of waste generated […]

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PPWR: EuRIC’s voting guide for the plenary session

Ahead of the plenary vote on the pivotal revision of the PPWR, EuRIC shares its key recommendations: Support for AM 435: Robust Methodology Ensuring That Recycled Content Placed on the EU Market Actually Comes from Recycling EuRIC fully endorses AM 435, laying out a robust methodology to guarantee that recycled materials in products are genuinely […]

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Recycler’s 6 key recommendations for improving packaging circularity under PPWR

In view of the European Parliament’s and Council’s positioning on the Commisison’s proposal for a Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) calls on the European legislator to support 6 key recommendations for making packaging more circular under the PPWR: 1.       Unequivocally support recycled content targets 2.       Recycled content and […]

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Public consultation | WEEE Directive revision – European recycling industries’ input to the call for evidence

EuRIC strongly supports the European Commission’s initiative to evaluate the Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) whose goal is to protect the environment and human health, contribute to sustainable production and consumption as well as ensure that resources are used efficiently in an EU circular economy. In terms of sustainability, although EuRIC believes […]