The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) issued a new position paper highlighting the harm caused by trade barriers to the global flow of recyclable materials and urging governments to avoid policy interventions that disrupt market access for recycled materials. The industry association warns that such actions could undermine sustainability efforts and obstruct progress toward a circular economy.
To prevent unintentional disruptions to recycling resulting from regulations with other environmental, security and economic aims, BIR argues that the recycling industry must be "properly represented" when policy matters that have the potential to impact recyclers’ operations are discussed.
The paper was issued in response an intensification of government measures adversely impacting the market, according to the recycling industry federation, which represents companies and organisations across 73 countries on all continents. These measures include unjustified tax obligations, export quotas and bans, and administrative burdens which create an uneven playing field for recyclers and ultimately hinder the uptake of secondary raw materials while favouring primary resource producers, said the BIR....
