Italian Minister Adolfo Urso says Italy leads Europe in industrial raw material recycling

At the 2026 edition of the Italian Waste Economy conference in Rome, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso said Italy is now the European leader in recycling raw materials for industrial use. He argued that Europe should impose a ban on the export of industrial waste, especially ferrous scrap and waste containing critical raw materials such as rare earths, photovoltaic panels, wind‑turbine components, batteries and mobile phones. Urso linked environmental sustainability with industrial competitiveness, emphasizing that reducing dependence on foreign inputs will strengthen the continent’s strategic autonomy.

The minister’s comments aim to shape EU policy on waste management and support the growth of a circular economy in the steel, renewable‑energy and electronics sectors.