The following information is provided by Eurometaux.

The European Commission published an implementing act for a four-week public consultation, here, under the Critical Raw Materials Act. The draft lays down the list of products, components and waste streams considered as having potential to recover critical raw materials.

The implementing act lists eleven waste streams, that are to be considered for measures to:

(1) promote waste prevention and increase re-use and repair of products and components with relevant critical raw materials recovery potential;

(2) increase the collection, sorting and processing of waste with relevant critical raw materials recovery potential, including metal scraps, and ensure their introduction into the appropriate recycling system, with a view to maximising the availability and quality of recyclable material as an input to critical raw material recycling facilities;

They are the following:

1. Batteries
2. Electrical and electronic equipment
3. Wind turbines and related infrastructure
4. Motor Vehicles and specific components
5. Light means of transport
6. Energy and telecommunications infrastructure
7. Industrial pumps
8. Industrial catalyst
9. Digestate or compost from separately collected biowaste
10. Slags, sludges, and ashes
11. Construction and demolition waste, particularly focusing on aluminium and copper alloys and cables in buildings

Next steps & actions

• The consultation is open until Friday 25^th July.
• Please feel free any initial comments on the list of waste streams (plus any additional aspects you would like us to flag in our answer) proposed by Wednesday 9^th July. This will help us structure and improve our answer that we’ll start preparing in parallel. Emails can be sent to:

Laura Fazio Bellacchio
Communication and Sustainability Manager
fazio@eurometaux.be

Author: Andy Cormack