| The communication, although non-binding, provides clarity for the implementation of the waste hierarchy and gives guidance for Member States to avoid problems such as incineration overcapacity

| "The mountain brought forth a mouse", the federation claims.

| Responding to pressure to recycle more plastics and to add value to reclaimed materials, leading experts and professionals from across Europe gather in Cologne for the first Plastics Recycling Technology conference. The conference, organised by specialist plastics industry consultancy AMI, takes place on 20-21 June 2017.

| In a recent communication, the European Commission has clarified their view on the role of waste-to-energy in the circular economy and the Energy Union strategy.

| First Vice-President Frans Timmermans also presented a Circular Economy Finance Support Platform and issued guidance to member states on converting waste to energy.

| World crude steel production reached 1,628.5 million tonnes (Mt) for the year 2016, up by 0.8% compared to 2015. Crude steel production decreased in Europe, the Americas and Africa. Crude steel production increased in the CIS, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania.

| The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) has welcomed the vote in Environment Committee (ENVI) strengthening the foundation of a truly circular economy in Europe.

| Various European interest groups have expressed agreement to the ENVIs vote on the circular economy package. However, there are still some concerns.

| BIR also calls for support for the Global Recycling day through an online petition.

| This year's meeting will be held in Barcelona (Spain) on the 15th and 16th of June.

| Over 800.000 new jobs could be created across the EU if MEPs in the European Parliament’s Environment Committee vote for both an ambitious recycling target and to strongly support the refurbishing and reusing sectors on Tuesday, said the European Environmental Bureau (EEB).

| A group of environmental organisations warns of false hopes in bioplastics. The organisations remind that the main focus has to be on reducing the overall plastics use.

| In advance of the vote in the ENVI Committee on the circular economy package, european recycling federation Euric asks for a boost in recycling, competition and thus innovate recycling markets.

| The Environment Committee of the European Parliament will vote on 24 January to finalise its report on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive. The EU steel industry requests that the provision on final recycling is retained in order to measure real recycling.

| Research carried out by the plastics recycling initiative Pledge 4 Plastics has delivered the latest insight into consumer attitudes and behaviour towards plastics packaging recycling.