Comstock Metals has completed the assembly of all precision equipment and process units for its industry-scale solar panel recycling facility in Virginia City, Nevada.

Food waste is one of the biggest unsolved problems of European waste management. Despite clear political goals and the obligation to collect organic waste separately, a large part of organic waste remains in residual waste. The study "The case for Extended Producer Responsibility for food products" by Zero Waste Europe and the Bio-based Industries Consortium brings into play an instrument that has long been established in other waste streams: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

The international recycling industry has urged policymakers to adopt clear and harmonised rules for the transboundary movement of used textiles under the Basel Convention.

A&A Recycling Services has expanded its waste wood processing capacity at its Meriden Quarry facility in Coventry with the installation of an Ecotec TBG 530T high-speed shredder.

The European research project FUELGAE has completed its second implementation phase and reported further progress in the development of sustainable transport fuels from microalgae.

The World Meteorological Organization's global climate data for 2025 show a significant acceleration of key trends from rising greenhouse gas concentrations to record temperatures and a growing energy imbalance in the Earth system. These developments are not without consequences for industrial value chains.

The world is at a turning point in dealing with growing waste. Poor waste management has significant consequences, but at the same time offers opportunities: investing in sustainable and efficient systems can boost growth, jobs and innovation. In particular, the circular economy, which focuses on reuse and value retention, can turn waste into an engine of sustainable development. The World Bank Group's "What a Waste 3.0" report provides up-to-date data and analysis on global trends in waste management.

Stabilising an increasingly renewable electricity system is a key challenge of the energy transition. Flexible biogas and biomethane plants are coming more into focus, as they already provide considerable controllable power and build on existing infrastructure. According to the position paper "Biogas and Capacity Markets - On the Role of Biomass as a Flexibility Option in the Electricity Sector" by DBFZ and UFZ, biomass plants could make a much greater contribution to security of supply in the future than previously assumed.

Knowledge of cathode chemistry is increasingly decisive for the efficiency of modern recycling processes. The previous practice of processing heterogeneous batteries together leads to com-plex material flows and decreasing metal yields. The study "Identification of waste lithium-ion battery cell chemistry for recycling" by Finnish scientists shows that new diagnostic methods such as incremental capacity analysis can enable non-destructive pre-sorting for the first time. The study was published in "Waste Management".

Biogenic waste is one of the largest sources of raw materials in the European circular economy, which has so far been underestimated. Food residues, wood waste, sewage sludge and agricultural residues accumulate in enormous quantities, but are still often incinerated or landfilled. The study "Assessing the potential to enhance the circularity of bio-based waste" by Magellan Circle and 3drivers shows that more than half of these materials could be used in a higher quality. To achieve this, better separate collection, new recycling technologies and clear political framework conditions for a circular bioeconomy are crucial.

Europe has developed many of the technologies needed to improve battery recycling. However, experts from the European Union-funded projects FREE4LIB and RESPECT say stronger political coordination and broader industrial deployment are necessary to expand these solutions and secure access to critical raw materials.

On 14 October 2026, International E-Waste Day will focus on fast tech waste, a rapidly growing stream of discarded low-cost electronic products. The annual awareness campaign, organised by the WEEE Forum, aims to draw attention to the environmental, economic and safety challenges associated with these products and encourages organisations worldwide to participate.

The BIR has commented on the Council of the European Union's formal adoption of a new framework regulation for the European steel market.

TriPlast GmbH is expanding the safety infrastructure at its lightweight packaging sorting facility in Enns, Upper Austria. The company has selected AI-powered X-ray sorting technology from WeSort.AI to identify and remove hazardous contaminants at an early stage of the sorting process.

The IMPLICIT project is developing recycling processes for single-use auxiliary materials generated during composite manufacturing. The initiative focuses on recovering waste streams such as vacuum bags, release films and technical fabrics and converting them into secondary raw materials for industrial applications.

The stainless steel and special alloys sector continues to adapt to changing market conditions, evolving trade flows and new regulatory requirements. These themes dominated discussions at the latest meeting of the Stainless Steel & Special Alloys Committee of the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), held in Gothenburg on 2 June.

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has renamed its Electrics, Electronics and EV Batteries Committee. The body will now operate under the simpler title of Electronics Committee. The announcement came during the committee's plenary session in Gothenburg on 2 June.

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) Non-Ferrous Metals Division has presented its second Non-Ferrous Legend award to Murat Bayram in recognition of his contribution to the global recycling industry.

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.

Global ferrous markets remain exposed to geopolitical instability, energy supply disruptions, protectionist policies, volatile freight rates and changing trade patterns.