Recycling news: 2026

Global New Chair elected to lead negotiations on global plastic pollution treaty On 7 February 2026, INC-5.3 in Geneva elected Ambassador Julio Cordano (Chile) as Chair and Linroy Christian (Antigua and Barbuda) as Vice-Chair. Cordano stressed the urgent need for a global treaty on plastic pollution. The INC, launched in 2022, is developing a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution with UNEP support. EXPRA · 23 Mar 2026 Global Safety in focus: Rising fire risks complicate safety gains Waste and recycling industry workers face numerous health and safety risks on the job. Studies indicate a lack of regulation and training play a part in injury and illness rates. Resource Recycling (US) · 23 Mar 2026 Global European Parliament debate on the Circular Package On 25 February, DG ENV presented the EU circularity mini package to the European Parliament, prompting debate on chemical recycling, end-of-waste criteria, and PPWR rules. MEPs stressed a “mechanical recycling first” approach and environmental safeguards, while the Commission defended a technology-neutral stance and material-based recycling targets. Harmonised end-of-waste standards and stronge… EXPRA · 23 Mar 2026 Global European Council Pushes to Conclude Omnibus Files by 2026 Ahead of the 19–20 March summit of the European Council, draft conclusions signal a strong political commitment to accelerate the adoption of pending “Omnibus” simplification packages. EU leaders are calling on both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to finalise all outstanding omnibus files by the end of 2026. EXPRA · 23 Mar 2026 Global Circular Materials (Ontario, Canada): New local recycling facilities open to support Ontario’s new enhanced Blue Box recycling program Two advanced recycling facilities have opened in Cambridge and Greater Napanee, supporting Ontario’s new producer-funded, province-wide recycling system launched in 2026. Together, they can process around 30% of the province’s blue box materials and up to 160,000 tonnes each annually. The new system introduces a unified list of recyclable materials, making recycling easier and more consistent a… EXPRA · 23 Mar 2026 Global Hypocrisy of Formula E Racing I’m sure Ursula loves Formula E Racing…. Watch the clip Bioplastics News · 23 Mar 2026 Global Mining Industry Wants to Pollute Your Drinking Water. Will the EU Let Them? How much is water worth? The United Nations has warned that the world faces a looming “water bankruptcy,” with more than half of the planet’s large lakes declining since the 1990s and 35% of natural wetlands lost since 1970. Europe is not exempt. Water stress is intensifying across the continent, yet at the very moment protections should be strengthened, a concerted industry push to weaken EU w… META (European Environmental Bureau) · 23 Mar 2026 Global Greenpeace warns Trump’s threat to bomb Iran’s power grid risks humanitarian and nuclear disaster Greenpeace condemns Trump's threat to target Iran’s electricity infrastructure, warning it could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe and risks nuclear disaster escalating into a wider regional crisis. Greenpeace International · 23 Mar 2026 Global New Providence carts underpin recycling campaign With grant assistance, the Rhode Island capital is providing about 55,000 new collection carts to help boost its recycling rate, among the state's lowest. Resource Recycling (US) · 23 Mar 2026 Global Record $6.4B in trade-ins as older phones drive market Device protection and services firm Assurant showed that iPhones were traded in at an average 3.8 years and Androids reached 3.96 years. Resource Recycling (US) · 23 Mar 2026 Global Let rivers run! Romania’s water management at a crossroads I grew up in Romania in the 1970s, at a time when the creeks and rivers of my home region still ran freely, shaped by their own rhythms rather than by concrete and steel. As a child, I played along their banks and learned their curves by heart. By the 1980s, those same waters were being straightened and encased in concrete in the name of flood protection. In the 1990s, plastic began to collect … META (European Environmental Bureau) · 23 Mar 2026 Global The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws According to this quote, the EU is becoming more and more corrupt. Bioplastics News · 23 Mar 2026 Global Eerste Fuchs MHL350G van Nederland voor Emmer Schroot- en Metaalhandel. Van der Spek Vianen heeft vanaf de vestiging in Hardenberg de eerste nieuwe Fuchs MHL350G van Nederland afgeleverd bij de Emmer Schroot- en Metaalhandel in Emmen. De nieuwe Fuchs MHL350G is de doorontwikkeling op de succesvolle Fuchs MHL350-serie die op vele recycling en op- en overslaglocaties te vinden is. Fuchs MHL350G Met zijn 35 ton […] Het bericht Eerste Fuchs MHL350G van Nederland voor E… RecyclePro · 23 Mar 2026 Global Speelzand tijdelijk toegelaten op Vlaamse recyclageparken Na de oproep van de federale overheid om geen speelzand meer te gebruiken dat mogelijk verontreinigd is met asbest, ontvangen de OVAM en de Vlaamse recyclageparken heel wat vragen over de bestemming van het verdachte zand. VVSG/Interafval, de Vlaamse stortplaatsen en de OVAM werkten deze ochtend een spoedregeling uit die toelaat om tijdelijk (en voor […] Het bericht Speelzand tijdelijk toegelat… RecyclePro · 23 Mar 2026 Global Ohne weitere Eskalation könnte der Iran-Krieg Erholung der deutschen Wirtschaft nur leicht verlangsamen Kommunale Investitionen müssen besser unterstützt werden. Iran-Krieg und US-Handelspolitik belasten deutsche Wirtschaft etwas, stoppen aber bisher Aufschwung nicht – Gestiegene Energiepreise dürften Inflation um 0,4 Prozentpunkte erhöhen und Wirtschaftswachstum um 0,1 bis 0,2 Prozentpunkte senken – Expansive Finanzpolitik stützt deutsche Erholung – In gebeutelten Kommunen entfalten die Mittel a… Recyclingportal.eu · 23 Mar 2026 Global “Abschottung kein Beschleuniger: Europas Industrie braucht Freiheit statt neuer Fesseln” Aktuelle DIHK-Umfrage zu „Buy European“. DIHK-Außenwirtschaftschef Volker Treier zum Vorschlag des Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA): Mit dem Industrial Accelerator Act will die EU-Kommission Genehmigungsverfahren beschleunigen, strategische Industrien gezielt fördern und über „Buy European“-Vorgaben die heimische Produktion stärken. Ziel ist mehr Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und Resilienz in geopolitis… Recyclingportal.eu · 23 Mar 2026 Global Standpunkt: Sondervermögen künftig für Investitionen einsetzen ifo-Präsident Clemens Fuest appelliert an die Politik, das Sondervermögen künftig ausschließlich für zusätzliche wachstumsfördernde Investitionen auszugeben. Zuvor hatte das ifo Institut eine Zweckentfremdung des Sondervermögens von 95 Prozent berechnet. Diese ergebe sich aus der Aufnahme zusätzlicher Schulden in Höhe von 24,3 Milliarden Euro, während die Investitionen nur um 1,3 Milliarden ges… Recyclingportal.eu · 23 Mar 2026 Global Mehrheit der Deutschen will mehr Tempo bei GreenTech Forsa-Umfrage zu grünen Technologien im Auftrag der DBU. Die Branche mit grünen Technologien, im Fachjargon kurz GreenTech, bleibt zwar für eine von Krisen und Kriegen durchgerüttelte Wirtschaft Wachstumsmotor, Stabilitätsfaktor und Innovationstreiber zugleich. Doch offenbar erwarten die Deutschen von Politik, Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft noch mehr Tempo bei GreenTech. Das ist das Ergebnis einer… Recyclingportal.eu · 23 Mar 2026 Global Leading environmental groups demand McDonald’s act to defend Amazon Soy Moratorium Leading environmental groups Greenpeace International and Mighty Earth have issued an open letter to McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski, urging the fast-food giant to intervene… Greenpeace International · 23 Mar 2026 Global Governments must curb corporate interference in Global Ocean Treaty as key talks begin New York, USA – Greenpeace is demanding governments curb corporate interference in ocean protection, as crucial Ocean Treaty talks begin at UN headquarters in New York today. Greenpeace International · 23 Mar 2026 Global Australia’s EPR Journey: Learning from Europe’s PRO Success The article highlights how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems in Europe have evolved into effective, mandatory frameworks driving recycling, eco-design, and circularity. In contrast, Australia’s approach remains largely voluntary, limiting its impact and industry participation. Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia—a member of EXPRA—illustrates early progress, but broader regulatory s… EXPRA · 22 Mar 2026 Global Fost Plus (Belgium): First cross-border project for reusable packaging The Interpool project unites Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and northern France to advance cross-border systems for reusable glass and transport packaging. Supported by the EU Interreg programme, the initiative maps existing reuse models to identify regulatory, logistical, and technological barriers, with pilot projects planned from 2027. It directly supports EU targets on packaging waste r… EXPRA · 22 Mar 2026 Global Collaborative EPR: A conversation with CITEO and EXPRA Jean Hornain (CITEO) and Hester Klein Lankhorst (EXPRA) join Packaging Europe’s podcast to discuss CITEO’s entry into EXPRA and the growing role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Europe. They underline the need for cross-border collaboration in a highly integrated packaging market. The conversation highlights that effective recycling depends on both strong source separation and advan… EXPRA · 22 Mar 2026 Global Von der Leyen unveils ultimate solution to energy crisis The Commission president floated a €30 billion “ETS investment booster” to help industry decarbonize. Personal remarks If you still haven’t realized Ursula is pulling a fast one on us… you must be the brightest bulb in a blackout. Source Von der Leyen promises ETS tweaks in ‘days’ Bioplastics News · 21 Mar 2026 Global Oil wealth: Saudi Arabia vs Australia How Oil-Rich Western Countries Failed Their Own Citizens Bioplastics News · 21 Mar 2026 Global Cuban man finds solution to EU energy crisis A Cuban man has single-handedly solved the EU energy crisis, and the European Commission should pay him €10 million for his invention. Bioplastics News · 21 Mar 2026 Global Damage Caused by Net Zero Policies in the UK The Net Zero agenda is being used to undermine Europe’s industrial capacity. Bioplastics News · 21 Mar 2026 Global EU PPWR is a complete failure The European Circular Economy: Now Circulating Mostly Microplastics The European Commission has launched yet another consultation on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Citizens, stakeholders, industry representatives and lobbyists are invited to provide feedback on how Europe should manage packaging waste. The same stakeholders who helped design the system that produced Europe… Bioplastics News · 21 Mar 2026 Global Battery factory near Heide: Lyten plans to start operations in 2028 Battery factory near Heide: Lyten plans to start operations in 2028 On Monday (March 16), he visited the planned site of a battery factory near Heide for the first time; […] Batteries News · 20 Mar 2026 Global Berlin Battery Lab: BAM, HZB and HU are conducting joint research on sodium batteries Berlin Battery Lab: BAM, HZB and HU are conducting joint research on sodium batteries Help us improve our website! By clicking on “Allow”, you enable us to gather statistical information […] Batteries News · 20 Mar 2026 Global Eve Energy rolls out 2 new all-solid-state batteries in push for commercialization Eve Energy rolls out 2 new all-solid-state batteries in push for commercialization Eve Energy has rolled out two new all-solid-state batteries, targeting the consumer electronics and EV sectors respectively. The […] Batteries News · 20 Mar 2026 Global CIBF 2026 to Gather Global Battery Industry in Shenzhen This May, Opens Visitor Registration CIBF 2026 to Gather Global Battery Industry in Shenzhen This May, Opens Visitor Registration SHENZHEN, China, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 18th China International Battery Fair (CIBF 2026), organized […] Batteries News · 20 Mar 2026 Global Matthews Engineering and hs-tumbler Join Forces to Enable High-Speed Dry Electrode Manufacturing Through Trajectory Mixing Matthews Engineering and hs-tumbler Join Forces to Enable High-Speed Dry Electrode Manufacturing Through Trajectory Mixing Cooperation combines trajectory mixing and calendering expertise to improve powder preparation, throughput and process consistency […] Batteries News · 20 Mar 2026 Global BASQUEVOLT brings Axon Partners Group on board as investor to accelerate the industrialisation of next‑generation battery technology BASQUEVOLT brings Axon Partners Group on board as investor to accelerate the industrialisation of next‑generation battery technology BASQUEVOLT, a European technology company specialised in next-generation solid-state battery technology, today announced […] Batteries News · 20 Mar 2026 Global Data Center Power Demand – Ultium Cells Spring Hill Diversifies Production with LFP Batteries for Energy Storage Systems Data Center Power Demand – Ultium Cells Spring Hill Diversifies Production with LFP Batteries for Energy Storage Systems SPRING HILL, Tenn. – Today, Ultium Cells LLC, a joint venture between General […] Batteries News · 20 Mar 2026 Global Vianode and Ateios Systems announce agreement to develop next-gen graphite electrodes Vianode and Ateios Systems announce agreement to develop next-gen graphite electrodes Oslo, Norway / Newberry, Indiana, March 19, 2026 – Vianode, an advanced battery materials company, and Ateios Systems, a […] Batteries News · 20 Mar 2026 Global Echion Technologies – GUS Technology Launches XNO® Battery Products Echion Technologies – GUS Technology Launches XNO® Battery Products Tokyo, Japan — GUS Technology today announced the launch of a new range of fast-charging, high power battery products produced at […] Batteries News · 20 Mar 2026 Global Lyten to Establish a Lyten Industrial Hub in Poland Lyten to Establish a Lyten Industrial Hub in Poland Lyten announces the establishment of its next Lyten Industrial Hub in Gdańsk, Poland. The hub will bring together key manufacturing and […] Batteries News · 20 Mar 2026 Global Ecoembes (Spain): Science, architecture and marine engineering: the third edition of Circularity Day At Circularity Day 2026, Ecoembes (Spain) emphasized that accelerating the circular economy requires strong cross-sector collaboration. The event showcased practical solutions—from circular architecture to marine regeneration and transforming plastic waste into medicine—highlighting circularity as a driver of innovation and competitiveness. EXPRA · 20 Mar 2026 Global Verpact (The Netherlands) and Jumbo Supermarkets scale up the use of Verpact and Jumbo Supermarkets have taken a concrete step towards scaling up the use of recycled plastic, with Jumbo’s 3-litre frying oil bottles now containing 30% recycled content. This collaboration demonstrates how aligning supply and demand across the value chain can deliver tangible environmental impact, including significant CO₂ savings. The initiative is part of Verpact’s broader Delta … EXPRA · 20 Mar 2026