EU Commission to develop evidence-based trade measure addressing alleged scrap leakage in recycling sector
EU Commission Vice-President for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, has announced the launch of preparatory work for a trade measure to address the issue of alleged “scrap leakage,” which is set to be adopted by spring 2026. Recycling Europe has pointed out that, to date, the EU Commission’s own monitoring has shown no evidence of scrap leakage. Claims to the contrary are unfounded and misleading.
Europe’s recycling sector, which includes tens of thousands of SMEs and larger companies providing non-outsourcable jobs across the EU, plays a key role in supporting circularity, decarbonization, resource autonomy, and material security. Recycling Europe welcomes the Vice-President’s recognition of this role.
The Vice-President’s commitment to bringing certainty to Europe’s recycling industry, as well as to the domestic and international customers who rely on it, is also appreciated. Europe’s decarbonization efforts cannot succeed without its recycling industry, and the recycling sector cannot thrive without strong domestic demand for recycled materials and viable market outlets for its surplus.
As part of the value chain, we expect to be fully involved in the upcoming consultation. “The entire value chain benefits when decisions are based on facts, not hearsay – we, Europe’s recyclers, are ready to engage,” said Olivier François, President of Recycling Europe.
Recycling Europe is prepared to work with the European Commission to design the measure, ensuring that any trade action taken is evidence-based, proportional, and does not favor one sector over another.
