Reducing waste or recovering its value by extending product lifespans or recycling are key parts of Europe’s efforts to create a circular economy which contributes to the European Green Deal’s sustainability goals. However, according to the European Environment Agency’s assessment, published this week, many EU Member States are at risk of not meeting at least … Continue reading New EEA briefings on waste recycling rates in Europe
Category: recycling
New EEA briefing on need to step up circular economy efforts in Europe
The EU’s circular economy action plan aims to double the share of recycled materials used in its economy by 2030. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) assessment, published this week, shows that the pace of progress needs speeding up, requiring both more recycling and less overall material use. A second, in-depth report on waste prevention highlights … Continue reading New EEA briefing on need to step up circular economy efforts in Europe
If you look back at the examples of the past two centuries, industry-wide reuse of such materials as iron from sunken ships should have been business as usual by now
Salman Shooshtarian and Tayyab Maqsood at RMIT University in Australia provide a fascinating article on The Conversation website about being innovative in using recycling materials for our building construction. Buildings used iron from sunken ships centuries ago. The use of recycled materials should be business as usual by now At Fremantle Prison in the … Continue reading If you look back at the examples of the past two centuries, industry-wide reuse of such materials as iron from sunken ships should have been business as usual by now
New EEA briefing on how to handle discarded textiles in Europe
Discarded textiles in Europe, including used clothing and footwear, are an increasing waste and export problem. Rapidly increasing EU exports of used textiles — some of which is reused and some of which ends up in landfills — show that Europe faces a challenge in how to handle its own used textiles, according to a … Continue reading New EEA briefing on how to handle discarded textiles in Europe
New EEA assessment on secondary raw material markets in Europe
Europe’s ambitions for a circular economy require the timely provision of good-quality recycled raw materials to manufacturers. However, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment published this week, from the eight most common recyclables, only aluminium, paper and glass have well-functioning secondary markets. Lack of standardisation and competition with new materials are among the … Continue reading New EEA assessment on secondary raw material markets in Europe
Companies in Europe not living up to their commitments to reduce plastic packaging
Two-thirds of pledges to go greener on plastic fail or are dropped, a DW investigation has found. Here's how European food and drink companies break their own commitments, and how legislation might hold them accountable. Kira Schacht discusses the findings of the investigation in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. European food companies … Continue reading Companies in Europe not living up to their commitments to reduce plastic packaging
Blog from Jane Marsh: Energy Efficiency Essential for Recycling Industry Developing
We grew up with the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra on repeat, thanks to the EPA’s recycling-centric campaign that started in the 1990s. With a growing population that will likely reach 8 billion souls in 2023 and 10 billion by 2050, we need new solutions to manage the massive amount of waste the human race generates. … Continue reading Blog from Jane Marsh: Energy Efficiency Essential for Recycling Industry Developing
New EEA briefings: Europe not on track to reach 2030 targets for municipal waste recycling
The European Union (EU) circular economy action plan aims to halve the amount of municipal waste in the EU that is not recycled by 2030. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, achieving this target requires both reducing waste generation and considerably increasing recycling, possibly even beyond the binding recycling target … Continue reading New EEA briefings: Europe not on track to reach 2030 targets for municipal waste recycling
With limited supplies of key materials, the need to recycle old batteries becomes more important
Inayat Singh writes on the CBC News website about the importance of recycling old batteries as sources for lithium and cobalt become more concentrated in only a few countries. For example, 70 % of cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo alone. Battery recycling could help make electric vehicle production more sustainable The … Continue reading With limited supplies of key materials, the need to recycle old batteries becomes more important
Blog from Jane Marsh: 10 Things to Know About Renewable Energy Recycling
When Russia invaded Ukraine, global gas prices skyrocketed. Individuals search for alternative fuel sources to meet their transportation and energy demands. Rising gas prices and the green revolution influence society’s renewable energy adoption. The solar and wind power industries effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. After photovoltaic (PV) panels and turbines reach their expiration dates, they … Continue reading Blog from Jane Marsh: 10 Things to Know About Renewable Energy Recycling
