Position papers
Over the last decades, the European recycling industries have drastically evolved by modernizing and constantly innovating to turn more waste streams into new resources. By doing so, the sector has contributed to the development of new technologies and automated equipment made in Europe and exported around the globe. The European regulatory framework has accompanied these changes thanks to ambitious targets and a meaningful waste hierarchy. However, the recycling sector continues to be subject to a complex and ever-growing EU regulatory framework, which affects its activities. To ensure a competitive European recycling sector, which is part of a global industry, EuRIC advocates clear, effective and smart European policies which:
- Incentivise recycling across the value chains;
- Minimise regulatory burdens on recyclers, in particular on SMEs;
- Guarantee an open and fair competition within Europe and with the world to foster a genuine internal recycling market.
EuRIC also advocates positive measures to ensure a consistent implementation of existing legislation across Europe.
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EuRIC unveils Metal Recycling Brochure
EuRIC is pleased to publish a factsheet on Metal Recycling highlighting the importance of both ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycling and their substantial benefits for the environment and the economy in Europe.
The Brochure outlines the environmental benefits, the economic and international trade aspects of steel, aluminum and copper recycling. -
EuRIC Position on the revision of the End-of-life Vehicles (ELV) Directive
EuRIC, the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation is pleased to share comments on the revision of Directive 2000/53/EC (ELV Directive).
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EuRIC Statement on issues stemming from the lack of capacity for ultimate residual waste
EuRIC has been informed by multiple recycling operators active in different parts of Europe of strong difficulties in finding outlets for ultimate residual waste treatment and disposal stemming from recycling processes of different industrial and commercial waste as well as of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs). Shredder light fraction (SLF) having a high calorific value and ultimate residual waste resulting from post-treatment techniques used to minimize the amount of residual waste which can no longer be materially recovered are directly affected. In the absence of current treatment or disposal options respectively in incineration with or without waste-to-energy or final disposal for the fractions with high calorific value, some recycling companies have been forced to stop their entire mechanical recycling operations, permanently or temporary.
EuRIC is pleased to highlight some key elements linked to the lack of capacity and obstacles to the acceptance of ultimate residual waste from industrial and commercial waste as well as WEEE and ELV mechanical recycling.
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EuRIC's reaction on the roadmap: “Legislation on end-of-life vehicles - evaluation” - October 2018
The European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) strongly welcomes the publication of the Roadmap to evaluate the Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles (ELV Directive). As a reaction to this roadmap, representing one step ultimately leading to a review of the ELV Directive, EuRIC calls on the European Commission to seize this opportunity for (i) solving the issue with a large number of vehicles of unknown whereabouts in Europe and (ii) making dismantling and recycling of ELV easier by introducing binding eco-design measures.
EuRIC's reaction to the Roadmap to evaluate the Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles -
Position on the Harmonized classification and Labelling for Cobalt Metal
EuRIC, the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation, is substantially concerned by the proposal made by the Netherlands for harmonized classification of Cobalt metal. The proposal as it stands will significantly disrupt the value chain for steel, be it stainless or carbon steel, as well as for specialty alloys and will have a very negative impact on their recycling.
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International Green Deal North Sea Resources Roundabout to work on new case: ‘Fast-Tracks’ for WEEE
EuRIC was proud to attend the first kick-off meeting of this Green Deal aiming to make shimpments of secondary raw materials faster and easier. ‘Fast-Tracks’ is the fifth case for the International Green Deal North Sea Resources Roundabout (NSRR) - after compost, PVC and non-ferrous metals from bottom ash and struvite. The case, initiated by Müller-Guttenbrunn GmbH and HKS Metals deals with the concept of ‘Fast-Tracks’ for WEEE: making shipments to compliant EU WEEE recyclers easier and faster. Article 14 of the European Waste Shipment Regulation provides ample basis for the concept of ‘Fast-Track Notification’, but implementation can be improved. For this case Flemish, French, UK and Dutch public and private sector experts are joined by Austrian colleagues to explore possibilities for commonly accepted criteria for pre-consents and mutual accepted processes, amongst other things. The Commission (DGENV) is following the case as an observer.
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Inapplicability of the “Study to assess the impacts of different classification approaches for hazard property "HP 14" to fluff-light fraction and dust from shredding of metal containing waste
EuRIC urges the European Commission and the Technical Adaptation Committee (TAC) to refrain from approving any proposal and regulatory changes relying on chemical analysis for the assessment of the ecotoxic property of waste HP 14 applicable to fluff-light fraction and dust from shredding of metal containing waste (19 10 03*/19 10 04) until a proper harmonized method fit for the purpose of characterising complex solid waste streams is set up.
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COP21 – EuRIC: Time to acknowledge the benefits of recycled steel scrap in steelmaking
EuRIC voiced European steel recyclers’ views during a side-event of the United Nations conference on climate change COP21.
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Statement of the European Steel Recyclers ahead of the Competitiveness Council of 9.11.2015 on the EU Steel Industry
EuRIC calls the Competitiveness Council of 9 November 2015 for immediate action to restore the competitiveness of the European steel recycling industry.