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Welcome to the latest edition of the BIR information service for members, the BIR eBrief. This overview of BIR’s activities is published regularly, in order to keep you abreast of the most important ongoing actions within your world recycling federation.
In this edition you will find:
Legislation:
- India adds Mundra to its list of sea ports where pre-shipment inspection certificate is exempted for metallic scrap from safe countries/region
- France gives legal certainty for Reuse
Spotlight on Global Recycling Day:
- Global Recycling Foundation invites schools to celebrate Global Recycling Day with a new student education pack
- Dutch and Swedish recycling industries pledge support to Global Recycling Foundation
- Global Recycling Foundation calls on the world to combat climate change by championing recycling
- The Global Recycling Foundation looks at the best recycled fashion ahead of London Fashion Week
Membership: New Customer Relations Management system launched
News from national recycling associtiations:
- CPRRA visits BIR Secretariat in Brussels
- BIR leadership attends MRAI conference in Kochi
- BIR and COBEREC discuss Global Recycling Day and textiles recycling
- Future events of some of our member associations
Conventions:
India adds Mundra to its list of sea ports where pre-shipment inspection certificate is exempted for metallic scrap from safe countries/region
On 25 February 2019, the Director General of Foreign Trade of India amended the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 with Public Notice n°75/2015-2020 that inserts Mundra to the list of sea ports where “Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) is exempted in case of import of metallic scrap” (metallic waste and scrap, both shredded and unshredded) “coming from safe countries/region”, i.e. the USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the EU.
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France gives legal certainty for Reuse
With the publication last December of an "Arrêté", France is defining the conditions for objects and chemicals that were classified as “wastes” to become “products” again. Only certain waste objects and chemicals are covered by this new text: printer cartridges, paper / plastic/ wood /
metal / glass packaging, end-of-life tires, waste electrical and electronic equipment, waste textile / clothing, and furniture items, amongst other specific wastes suitable for reuse.
The French law is the first to build on the recently revised EU's Waste Framework Directive and its Article 4: “Waste Hierarchy of: (a) prevention; (b) preparing for re-use; (c) recycling; (d) other recovery, e.g. energy recovery; and (e) disposal. " and more precisely the: b) “preparing for re-use". The law sets out criteria for wastes entering "preparing for reuse", wastes used in the "preparing for reuse", and the products derived from the "preparing for reuse".
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With less than a month to go until the second annual Global Recycling Day on 18th March 2019, the Global Recycling Foundation is bringing cities and organisations together from across the world to encourage everyone recognise the role we can all play in improving the circular economy.
On the 18th March, official Global Recycling Day events will take place in numerous cities around the world, details of which will be announced soon. Organisations in these cities will work with schools and young people to raise awareness of recycling through special events and competitions, as well as asking individuals to make a pledge to change their recycling habits, with more exciting initiatives to be launched in the coming weeks. The world is encouraged to join in across social media channels using the hashtag #GlobalRecyclingDay.
Global Recycling Foundation invites schools to celebrate Global Recycling Day with a new student education pack
Ahead of the second Global Recycling Day, the Global Recycling Foundation has launched a special education pack to inspire schools around the world to think ‘resource, not waste’ and celebrate Global Recycling Day on 18th March 2019. As part of this year’s theme, “Recycling into the Future”, Global Recycling Day 2019 is focusing on the power of youth and education in ensuring a brighter future for our children.
The pack is designed to make it easy for teachers to plan a lesson around recycling and inspire their students with the power of recycling, outlining various ways in which schools and classes can take part in the world-wide Global Recycling Day celebrations. It can be downloaded from the Global Recycling Day website on the Youth & Education page.
The education pack includes:
- Global Recycling Day lesson plan and resources: Including a devised set of materials that teachers can use as classroom decorations and as the basis for a lesson plan on recycling. These can be adapted for a range of ages and include:
- ‘How to celebrate Global Recycling Day 2019’ schools framework
- ‘10 amazing things made out of recycled goods’ presentation and activities’
- Recycling citizen graphic detailing how children can be better recyclers (also available in French and German)
- Recycling fact sheet
- Classroom poster showing support for Global Recycling Day 2019
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Dutch and Swedish recycling industries pledge support to Global Recycling Foundation
The Dutch Waste Management Association (DWMA), the Dutch Industrial Secondary Raw Materials Association for construction and civil engineering (VIB), the Dutch recycling federation FHG and the Swedish Recycling Industries’ Association (SRI) have announced their status as ‘Founding Friends’ of the Global Recycling Foundation, becoming some of the earliest donors of the foundation.
During the Nordic Economy Summit 2019 on 17 January 2019, they pledged their support to the Global Recycling Foundation’s Founding President, Ranjit S. Baxi. The Global Recycling Foundation was established in October 2018 to promote and encourage recycling across the world. The recycling and reuse of waste materials is considered to be a crucial element in the transition to the circular economy.
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Global Recycling Foundation calls on the world to combat climate change by championing recycling
The landmark agreement announced at COP24 in December 2018 has seen governments around the world agree to a robust set of guidelines for implementing the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. This represents a major step forward in the battle to tackle climate change but time is also running out to ensure concrete change. The Global Recycling Foundation urges the recycling industry to take heed to the COP24 agreement and continue to play its frontline role in preserving the planet’s resources and improving the circular economy. It is also calling on recycling businesses and organisations across the globe to impress on their local communities, municipalities and governments to take action now, before it is too late.
The COP24 agreement, dubbed the ‘Katowice Climate Package’, seeks to promote greater international cooperation. This is a key pillar of the Global Recycling Day campaign.
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The Global Recycling Foundation looks at the best recycled fashion ahead of London Fashion Week
With London Fashion Week around the corner (15th - 19th February), the Global Recycling Foundation is calling on the fashion industry to champion recycling by shining a spotlight on the brands already leading the way on recycled fashion. It’s also calling on the industry to support Global Recycling Day, taking place on 18th March 2019.
Recycling and environmental concerns are growing high on the fashion industry’s priority list. This year the British Fashion Council is introducing a brand new talk series focused on sustainability and fashion at London Fashion Week, in partnership with sustainable fashion designer Amy Powney and BBC Earth. The Global Recycling Foundation is urging London Fashion Week to continue to encourage recycling in fashion and to launch initiatives that promote the companies already championing sustainability.
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New Customer Relations Management system launched: Fast, efficient and interactive!
At the beginning of this year, BIR has launched its brand-new Member Portal that allows members to access and manage their own details in a much more efficient way than in the past. This tool, which is linked to BIR’s new database and CRM system, offers a user-friendly update mechanism. Gone are the days when lengthy email exchanges were necessary to access your files, consult your data and manage your member profile. What is more, our members are also able to handle their convention registrations via this new portal.
We are very excited to see that many members have already logged-in and modified their contact details.
As every new system we are aware that some adjustments still need to be done and it is with our members support, feedback and remarks that we will be able to improve further BIR new system.
The adventure is just beginning!
CPRRA visits BIR Secretariat in Brussels
On 6 February, BIR met with Mr Arnold Wang, Deputy Secretary-General of China Plastic Reuse and Recycling Association to discuss the impact of the new Chinese regulations on the Chinese market and neighbouring countries, as well as the future of this business in the region.
Mr Wang invited BIR to attend the upcoming ChinaRePlas event in Xiamen on 26-27 April 2019 which will attract all major plastics recycling stakeholders in China.
BIR leadership attends MRAI conference in Kochi
BIR President Baxi and Director General Brunet attended the latest annual conference of BIR member association MRAI in Kochi (India) at the beginning of February. The well-attended event provided the opportunity to meet with MRAI leadership and interact with current and potential BIR members in attendance.
The programme included an interesting array of guest speakers who were giving insight into the development of the Indian scrap market and the regulatory environment. The efforts to structure the market in India are impressive but many challenges remain.
BIR and COBEREC discuss Global Recycling Day and textiles recycling
So close and yet so far! Although the offices of the BIR secretariat and the Belgian recycling association COBEREC are both located in Brussels, BIR had not visited in recent years.
The discussions about a potential joint initiative on the upcoming Global Recycling Day on 18 March provided a welcome opportunity for BIR Director General Arnaud Brunet and Communications Director Elisabeth Christ to visit Jan Vermoesen, the Managing Director of COBEREC. The discussion touched on many different topics, and Mr Brunet invited Mr Vermoesen to come up with suggestions on what he and his members were expecting from their international trade association. An issue of concern seemed to be the situation on the used textiles market, and Mr Vermoesen expressed great interest in the video that BIR had produced to illustrate the process of textile recycling.
Future events of some of our member associations
Registration open for BIR World Recycling Convention & Exhibition in Singapore, (19) 20-22 May 2019
Are you joining us in Singapore for the 141st BIR World Recycling Convention & Exhibition?
Over 3 days at the stylish Shangri-La Hotel, the world’s premier recycling event will allow you to:
- Meet all your business contacts in one place
- Check out the latest market reports
- Discuss the future trends in the recycling industry
- Open new revenue streams for your business
- And, of course, enjoy BIR’s social events
See the full programme HERE
Book your access pass and reserve your hotel room now!
In this quick 2-minute video, your colleagues share the benefits of attending the BIR Conventions.
