Umbrella organisations representing the recycling sector are voicing their strong objections to the European steel and aluminium industries’ recent calls for restrictions on exports of scrap from the EU to third countries. In a 15 January statement warning against imposing restrictions and urging the European Commission and other EU policymakers to preserve free trade, the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) defended scrap exports, stating these have been "keeping recycling businesses alive, serving as a counterbalance to the extremely low EU demand for recycled materials."
Closing the EU borders for scrap exports would have "detrimental consequences to the environment, the economy and EU’s competitiveness", EuRIC wrote. According to the association, the "prolonged decline" of European steel and aluminium production is concerning for recyclers, as it threatens Europe’s competitiveness and green and digital transitions. However, any calls by the European steel and aluminium industries to restrict scrap exports were "completely unjustifiable and unacceptable, especially when the supply of recycled scrap has never been the reason behind any decreased activity of EU mills," EuRIC argued.
"Trade challenges cannot be addressed through protectionism and protectionist measures must not work against Europe’s circularity backbone – the European recycling industry," EuRIC added. The association urges EU policymakers to "preserve open trade and carefully consider the EU recycling industry’s contributions to the EU economy and sustainability." Moreover, the Commission should only endorse measures that encourage companies to keep innovating and generating resources, "instead of hampering them and threatening their very existence."...
