Incorrectly disposed lithium-ion batteries are creating an increasing fire risk for Europe's waste management and recycling sector.

The circular economy is considered the key to resource and climate protection. But it has long been an important employment factor. A global survey of "Employment in the Circular Economy" by Circle Economy, the World Bank Group, the International Labour Organization and Page shows that up to 142 million people worldwide work in circular activities.

The European research project REWIND has recovered more than 20 square metres of decommissioned wind turbine blade sections for reuse in industrial applications.

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.

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.

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".

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.

The European Parliament has approved the end-of-life vehicles regulation during its plenary session in Strasbourg. Nearly 80 per cent of participating Members of the European Parliament supported the legislation.

Global supply chains provide detailed information about products from raw material extraction to the point of sale. However, visibility often ends once a product reaches the consumer. When products enter waste and recycling systems, data frequently becomes unavailable.

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.