News archive

KVZ Hintermayr specialises in recycling materials that others often find challenging, such as pressed big bags, polystyrene and yoghurt tubs. To maintain an extremely high level of flexibility and quality, the shredding technology must process the different plastics efficiently and reliably.

Recyclers, traders and manufacturers in the non-ferrous sector are having to adapt to a profound transformation in volatile global markets, the BIR World Recycling Convention in Bangkok has been told. The Non-Ferrous Metals Division session on 27 October considered the impact on the sector of shifting policies, tariffs and new technologies – and how being smart with data can help navigate the changes.

How recyclers will benefit from the growing demand for secondary materials during a seismic shift in the world order has been set out at the Bureau of International Recycling’s World Recycling Convention in Singapore.

In 2023, 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste were generated in the EU, or 177.8 kg per inhabitant. While this marks a reduction of 8.7 kg per capita compared with 2022, the figure remains 21.2 kg higher than in 2013.

Chemical (advanced) recycling can extend circularity to plastic streams that are hard to recycle mechanically. The Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology Umsicht has compiled an interactive map of Europe’s chemical recycling activities, covering facilities, technologies, capacities, and project status across the continent. For context, the European steam cracker sites and capacities are also listed.

ICIS and CPCIF have released a new study shedding light on the impacts of the European Union’s circularity regulation on global demand for recycled plastics, generally and China’s chemical industries, in particular, with key implications across packaging, automotive, and textiles.

IMRO Maschinenbau is set to open a facility capable of processing complex waste streams such as incinerator bottom ash (IBA), in collaboration with ZenRobotics.

The European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) has announced the successful formation of the European Circular Composites Alliance (ECCA), a voluntary initiative dedicated to advancing the circularity of composite materials. So far more than 160 organisations have joined the ECCA since its official launch in May 2025.

Pellenc is launching AISEE, an AI-based quality control analyser designed to support operators in achieving high efficiency and top-quality outputs. AISEE focuses on monitoring, analysing, and improving the quality of recyclable fractions, while reducing material losses.

In 2023, around 130 kilograms (kg) of food per person were wasted in the EU.

In early August 2025, the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) officially accredited PlastCert, a division of RIGK GmbH, in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065 for the certification programmes “RecyClass Recycling Process” and “RecyClass Recycled Plastic Traceability”.

The demanding requirements for quality and quantity in waste stream separation call for new solutions to meet these challenges. One promising approach lies in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision, combined with existing technologies such as near-infrared (NIR) cameras. This article aims to introduce these technologies, explain their exponential growth, explore current applications in waste sorting, and highlight their potential for the future.