Artificial intelligence and robotics are playing an increasingly important role in metal recycling and shredder operations. Industry experts highlighted their potential to improve material control, quality assurance and operational efficiency during the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) Shredder Committee meeting in Gothenburg on 1 June.

In a joint open letter addressed to Executive Vice President Stéphane Séjourné and Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, a coalition of European recycling associations and companies has called on the European Commission to reconsider any potential export restrictions on recycled aluminium scrap. The letter, dated May 28, 2026, was coordinated by Recycling Europe and signed by dozens of companies and national associations from across the EU.

The Global Aluminium Can Collectors Alliance (GBCCA) has announced the development of a new technology aimed at advancing the circular economy for aluminium beverage cans. According to the organization, the innovation is designed to improve the collection and recycling processes and ensure that cans remain one of the most recycled packaging formats worldwide.

Finder Color is particularly effective for recovering valuable materials such as copper and brass from mixed heavy metals, cleaning stainless steel fractions (including those from end-of-life vehicles) and achieving high-level purification of printed circuit boards (PCBs) from mixed e-scrap. It is capable of processing grain sizes from 6-120mm and delivering throughputs of up to 20 tons per hour on Zorba material.

Today, 98% of Romanians are familiar with the DRS, 90% have returned packaging at least once, and six out of ten actively participate. In its first year of operation, the system collected over 3.5 billion packages.

Contributing matching support towards the project, Pulpex has already made significant strides in the development of its patented technology, which produces degradable bottles made from natural wood fibres. The packaging offers a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic materials and can be recycled in existing paper waste streams.  

The demand for sustainable solutions in packaging has never been higher, particularly in the food industry, where consumers are increasingly drawn to products that promise environmental responsibility. This trend has sparked a significant shift towards paper-based packaging, driven by both market forces and regulatory imperatives.