The undersigned associations - CEWEP, EPRO, EPSU, EuRIC, EXPRA, FEAD, FERVER, and Municipal Waste Europe, representing the entire public and private waste management value chain, extended producer responsibility organisations and public service unions, are expressing concerns over a significant increase in fire incidents within the European waste management sector, largely attributed to the misplacement of lithium batteries. These incidents present substantial safety hazards for workers, cause substantial damage to critical infrastructure, and jeopardise the financial stability of waste management operators, as well as the achievement of the European Union's circular economy goals.
"We are calling upon the European Commission to take decisive regulatory action to mitigate these risks and protect Europe's waste management infrastructure and workers", the associations said in a joint release.
The position paper is available for download here.
Source: Euric
The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has underlined the growing importance of recycling in global policy, resource management and industrial resilience. During the organisation's General Assembly on 2 June in Gothenburg, Sweden, BIR President Susie Burrage outlined the federation's recent progress in advocacy, communications, education, membership growth and financial performance.
The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) opened its latest world convention on 1 June in Gothenburg, Sweden, with more than 1,700 registered participants representing over 800 companies from 57 countries.
A coordinated plant train from Kleemann forms the core of this process chain, supporting the targeted production of defined aggregate fractions for reuse in asphalt mixing plants. The concept is complemented by application support and service structures within the Wirtgen Group portfolio.
At the meeting, Austria -supported by Germany and Lithuania- highlighted the sharp rise in fire incidents in waste management and recycling facilities caused by improperly disposed lithium waste batteries: 'During the summer of 2025, several major fires occurred in Austria and other Member States, each resulting in damages amounting to millions of euros - despite state-of-the-art fire prevention measures and infrastructure in waste management industries. These incidents highlight a significant and escalating safety risk for workers, severe environmental damage, and substantial economic losses for waste management operators.'
Brij Mohan Garg founded the company 40 years ago as a metal trading business. Today, it's managed by his sons Rakesh and Manish. Under their leadership, Hudei has become a specialist in metal recycling, especially for stainless steel, and is seen as a model across India for this emerging sector.
15 car manufacturers and the ACEA collectively have to pay around €458 million for participating in a long-lasting cartel. The tariff war is forcing nations to re-evaluate their economic and environmental priorities in the face of growing uncertainty. A study has examined whether EPR can contribute to increasing the EU's competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Even
The medical industry is a fast-paced sector with a high demand, producing simple and complex devices. The type of material used and the design of the product are focused on effectiveness during use and less on recyclability and sustainability. In the report "Circular economy of the materials in the healthcare industry: Opportunities and challenges", researchers from Australia have investigated how a circular economy could be implemented in medical technology. The article was published in "Resources, Conservation & Recycling".
