European Aluminium Association (EAA) calls for higher recycling targets

The European Aluminium Association (EAA) is calling for higher recycling targets and a phase out of landfilling of end-use recyclable goods.

The European aluminium industry strongly supports more ambitious recycling targets and a gradual phasing out of landfilling. Together with better collection schemes and innovative sorting technologies, these are the preconditions for an effective and successful circular economy.

EAA director general Gerd Götz states, “Bold policy measures are needed to secure the availability of aluminium scrap in Europe, a key resource for increasing recycling rates and one of Europe’s energy security components. We are calling for investment and innovation in the fields of collection and sorting, as well as greater consistency in reporting procedures, clearer definitions of recycling and the recognition of aluminium as a ‘permanent material’.

Stopping illegal scrap exports and reducing scrap leakage is also essential to reduce Europe’s dependency to resource and energy imports. The first and minimum step would be to set up credible metal scrap export monitoring systems.”