Politics

A new report prepared for the European Commission presents the way for more sustainable batteries by exploring how new battery technologies could be designed to ensure strong performance with minimal environmental impact. Design features which make batteries easier to reuse and recycle are key, it argues.

While traditionally the effort to increase recycling rates has focused on education and awareness, a new study among over 2,000 Americans conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of The Institute of Scrap Recycling (ISRI) suggests action by brands and government may play a significant role as well.

Single-use plastic items such as plates, cutlery or cotton buds, making up over 70% of marine litter, will be banned under plans backed in the Environment Committee.

With BIR holding its latest Convention in London, Brexit and its consequences provided a regular point of debate during the course of the two-day event – most prominently at the International Environment Council meeting on October 6 chaired by Olivier François of Galloo.

The recycling industry remains one of the world’s “best-kept secrets” and its story needs to be told to future generations in order to help them in the preservation of the planet. So said BIR World President Ranjit Singh Baxi at the latest meeting of the World Council of Recycling Associations (WCRA), at which he made major announcements surrounding Global Recycling Day.

A waste and resource management specialist from within the UK government’s Department for International Trade has expressed confidence that a Brexit agreement will be reached between the UK and the rest of the EU.

New provisions such as the circular economy package from the EU have given a huge boost to the use of recycled materials. Alpla welcomes this development, but is calling for consistent thinking and actions.

The EU Single Use Plastics Directive Proposal is currently under the assessment of the European Parliament. The proposal foresees the consumption reduction of PET trays – a circular packaging product with a high amount of recycled content.

“Tariffs are a very blunt instrument and can give a lot of unintended consequences,” declared Edward Meir in his guest presentation to the latest meeting of the BIR Non-Ferrous Metals Division on October 7.

According to IHS Markit, rapidly changing consumer expectations for plastics and increasing regulations or bans are creating market challenges and disconnects for producers

Despite the Section 232 measures adopted by the Trump administration, US scrap markets still rely on exports. Indeed, Turkey’s reliance on US scrap imports has increased since the start of the current year, it was revealed by Fastmarkets metals analyst Lee Allen in his guest presentation to the latest meeting of the BIR Ferrous Division, held in London on October 6.