Metal Recycling Factsheet
What we recycle
Plastics
Plastics are composed of polymers i.e., compounds made of many small molecules.
Ferrous metals
Ferrous metals, primarily composed of iron, include materials like steel and cast iron, which are commonly found in construction, manufacturing, and transportation.
Non-Ferrous metals
Non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, and titanium, do not contain iron and are valued for their resistance to corrosion and high conductivity.
Paper
Recycled paper is a versatile material that can replace or supplement virgin pulp to create new products like packaging, newspapers, and insulation.
Textiles
Textiles, including both synthetic fibers like polyester and natural fibers like cotton, are integral to daily life, with global production nearly tripling since 1975.
Tyres
Tyres contain multiple valuable materials such as rubber (75%), steel (15%) and textile fibres (10%).
Construction & Demolition
Construction and demolition (C&D) waste includes materials like concrete, bricks, wood, metals, glass, plastics, and hazardous substances such as asbestos.
End-of-life Vehicles
End-of-life Vehicles (ELVs) contain valuable materials like metals (steel, aluminum), plastics, rubber, and glass, as well as batteries.
E-waste
E-waste, otherwise referred to as waste electronical and electronic equipment (WEEE), is mainly composed of non-ferrous metals (nickel, copper, lead, etc.
Ships
End-of-life ships are decommissioned vessels that contain valuable materials like steel, metals, and electronics, along with hazardous substances such as asbestos, oils, and toxic chemicals.
Explore
Events
Other Events
May 4 2026
IFAT Munich 2026
Other Events
November 4 2025
ECOMONDO 2025
Other Events
October 28 2025
SteelOrbis Fall 2025 Conference & 93rd IREPAS Meeting
Other Events
October 7 2025
Pollutec 2025
Recycling Europe Events
Hamburg Deutschland
October 1 2025
7th European Recycling Conference (ERC) 2025
Recycling Europe Events
March 27 2025
Threading up Europe’s textile circularity: Bridging policy and industry through trade
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