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recycling industry
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- 1German recycling firm takes aim at Europe's China lithium reliance●Can this German company help end Europe’s lithium dependence on China? China produces up to 70% of the battery-grade lit
China currently supplies up to 70% of the battery-grade lithium chemicals used in Europe, and a German recycling company has opened a new plant it hopes will help cut that dependence. The company's process recovers lithium from batteries, though significant obstacles remain before it can make a real dent in imports. The project is being watched as a test case for Europe's broader push to secure homegrown supplies of critical raw materials for the electric vehicle and battery industries.
- 2US House Passes BRACE Act on Battery Recycling▼Battery Recycling for America's Competitive Economy Act: U.S. House of Representatives Passes BRACE Act (H.R. 9615)
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Battery Recycling for America's Competitive Economy Act, known as the BRACE Act (H.R. 9615). The legislation aims to strengthen domestic battery recycling as part of a broader push for supply chain competitiveness and clean energy materials. Analysts note it could shape the battery and critical minerals industry, with attention now turning to the Senate.
- 3
Solar panels installed in 2020 could supply 21% of the solar industry's silver needs by 2035, according to a new analysis reported by MarketScale. Silver is a key material in photovoltaic cells, and recycling silver from retiring panels could become a significant secondary supply source as demand for solar energy grows and mining supply struggles to keep pace with the industry's expansion.
- 4Spain turns ocean waste into sustainable fabric▼From ocean waste to fabric: inside Spain’s sustainable fashion revolution
Spanish innovators are transforming ocean waste into usable fabric as part of a growing sustainable fashion movement in the country. Reported by Euronews, the initiative highlights how discarded marine plastic can be recycled into textiles, reducing both ocean pollution and the fashion industry's environmental footprint. The report showcases companies and designers leading this shift, drawing attention to Spain as a hub for circular, eco-friendly textile production.
- 5M2i Global and Regenerate Technology Global expand partnership▼M2i Global, Regenerate Technology Global expand partnership
M2i Global and Regenerate Technology Global have broadened their partnership, according to an announcement reported by Recycling Today. The two companies are working together in the technology and materials space, with the expanded agreement expected to deepen their existing collaboration. Further details about the scope and terms of the expanded partnership have not been widely reported.
- 6Why cars are easier to recycle than smartphones▼Cars v.s smartphones: why vehicles are easier to recycle
Renault is drawing attention to the contrast between vehicle and smartphone recycling, arguing that cars are far easier to process at end of life. The carmaker points to established dismantling and recovery systems for vehicles, while smartphones are rarely recycled in comparable volumes, leaving valuable materials uncollected.
- 7Comstock Launches 24/7 Solar Panel Recycling in Nevada▼Comstock Launches 24/7 Solar Panel Recycling at Nevada Facility
Comstock has begun operating round-the-clock solar panel recycling at its Nevada facility, according to a company announcement carried by Yahoo Finance. The move positions the firm to process end-of-life solar panels continuously as volumes of decommissioned panels grow across the United States, addressing a mounting waste challenge for the solar industry.
- 8
Oak Ridge National Laboratory has developed a process that turns waste plastic into liquid fuel, offering a potential route to both recycle plastic waste and produce usable energy. The announcement is drawing attention for its environmental and economic implications, with observers discussing whether the technology could scale to industrial use and help address the global plastic waste problem.
- 9
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) has filed an appeal against a court ruling concerning Oregon's packaging extended producer responsibility law. The law requires producers to fund and manage packaging waste recycling. The appeal keeps the legal challenge to the statute alive, and industry observers are watching for what it could mean for similar packaging rules in other states.
- 10US Battery Firm Cleared to Export $100 Million of Recycled Battery Material●American Battery Technology Company Receives BIS Approval to Export Up to $100 Million of Recycled Black Mass Material
American Battery Technology Company has received approval from the US Bureau of Industry and Security to export up to $100 million of recycled black mass, the metal-rich material recovered from used lithium-ion batteries. The clearance lets the company sell recycled battery materials to overseas buyers, supporting its recycling business and the broader push to secure domestic supplies of battery metals like lithium, nickel and cobalt.
- 11Storms Are Turning Solar Farms into Sudden Waste Streams▼When Storms Turn Solar Farms into Sudden Waste Streams
Hail, hurricanes and other extreme weather are damaging solar farms at scale, shattering panels and converting renewable infrastructure into sudden streams of broken glass, silicon and metal waste. Industry and waste-management observers are highlighting the disposal challenge, as damaged panels are often landfilled and recycling options remain limited, raising questions about the durability and end-of-life planning of solar installations.
- 12EFS, Merlin, GreenWaste, Valemi win flexible film recycling contracts●EFS, Merlin, GreenWaste, Valemi get flex film recycling contracts
Companies EFS, Merlin, GreenWaste and Valemi have been awarded contracts for flexible film recycling, according to trade publications Waste Dive and Packaging Dive. The awards signal continued investment in recycling capacity for flexible plastic packaging, a material stream long considered difficult to process at scale and a growing focus for packaging producers and waste handlers.
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Europe's circular textiles sector is entering a critical phase in which pilot projects and recycled-fibre innovations must prove they can scale to industrial volumes. The industry faces questions over investment, collection capacity, and whether circular business models can compete with conventional textile production at commercial scale.
- 14Stanislav Kondrashov Weighs In on Europe's Critical Raw Materials Push●Stanislav Kondrashov on Europe and Progress in the Critical Raw Materials Sector
Stanislav Kondrashov has published commentary examining Europe's progress in the critical raw materials sector, an area central to the EU's industrial and energy strategy. The piece looks at how European countries are seeking to secure supplies of minerals needed for batteries, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, as the bloc works to reduce dependence on external suppliers and accelerate domestic mining, processing and recycling capacity.