European recycling markets face disruption from proposed export restrictions

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has warned that proposed European Commission restrictions on recycled metal exports could disrupt global markets. A draft delegated act under the EU Waste Shipment Regulation seeks to establish a list of non-OECD countries authorized to receive certain non-hazardous waste. However, the current draft excludes major Asian markets such as India, Malaysia, and Thailand from receiving ferrous and non-ferrous metal waste for recovery.

BIR cautions that these restrictions may not create sufficient domestic demand or processing capacity within Europe to absorb the affected volumes. Instead, the policy could depress recycled material prices, weaken collection incentives, and undermine investment in international recycling supply chains. For materials like aluminium, European processing capabilities do not always match the specific grades generated within the region.

Separately, research indicates that improving electronic waste collection could significantly bolster the EU’s circular economy and reduce reliance on imported critical metals. Studies show that 56 percent of electronic waste generated between 2006 and 2021 went uncollected. Enhancing these systems could recover vital materials, such as gallium, tantalum, magnesium, and tungsten, which are essential for technologies like wind turbines and electric vehicles.