Market

At the end of September, Brussels hosted the kick off meeting of a new European research project, polynSPIRE, aimed at improving the overall performance of plastics recycling looking for a more sustainable plastic value chain.

“Tariffs are a very blunt instrument and can give a lot of unintended consequences,” declared Edward Meir in his guest presentation to the latest meeting of the BIR Non-Ferrous Metals Division on October 7.

According to IHS Markit, rapidly changing consumer expectations for plastics and increasing regulations or bans are creating market challenges and disconnects for producers

Despite the Section 232 measures adopted by the Trump administration, US scrap markets still rely on exports. Indeed, Turkey’s reliance on US scrap imports has increased since the start of the current year, it was revealed by Fastmarkets metals analyst Lee Allen in his guest presentation to the latest meeting of the BIR Ferrous Division, held in London on October 6.

At the BIR London Convention’s “Workshop on the Bulgarian Eco-Tax on Second Hand Clothing” on 8 October 2018, the Bulgarian Association of Recyclers and Traders of Second Hand Clothes (ARTSHC) explained the proposed changes to its national laws affecting second hand clothing.

Rolf Willeke, Statistics Advisor of the BIR Ferrous Division, summarises below the main findings in his January-June 2018 update presentation.

The theme of next year’s Global Recycling Day will be „Recycling into the future“, focusing on „the power of youth, education and innovation in ensuring a brighter future for the planet.

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has launched the Global Recycling Foundation at its World Recycling Convention in London, where it also invited members to become the first cohort of Foundation „Friends“ when they donate.

Eriez Europe has opened a brand new 326 square metre manufacturing facility dedicated to rotor manufacturing, light fabrication assembly and additional product line assembly, expanding the existing extensive European manufacturing headquarters in Caerphilly, South Wales.

The very first International E-Waste Day is being held on the 13th October to promote the correct disposal of electrical and electronic equipment throughout the world.

What challenges will the battery recycling industry face in the future? How will the market and recycling technologies develop? And what progress has been made in the safe handling of lithium-ion batteries?