Preparations for the 47th edition of the Pollutec expo in Lyon, France, from 7-10 October are in full swing. Europe’s must-see event for recycling professionals is expected to draw more than 50 000 visitors and 2 000 exhibitors.
France, which hosts the annual Pollutec expo, is not alone in facing opportunity and an urgent need for growth. Tech providers and recyclers agree: creativity is abundant but greater investment and faster scaling up are essential.
French recycling snapshot
France’s municipal waste recycling rate stands at 48% when the target for non-hazardous, non-mineral waste this year is 65%. Plastics remain weak, at 28%, well below the European average of 41%. Packaging recycling is 48%, driven by metals.
Around 95% of aluminium used in building and transport is recycled, with steel and aluminium cans also performing strongly. Copper is a challenge: France consumes 257 000 tonnes annually, but only 30% is recycled locally. Of the 218 000 tonnes of copper waste collected, just 66 000 tonnes are processed in France – meaning a large volume is exported.
Meanwhile, end-of-life electronics collection was 42.7% in 2022 with France being among the top ten e-scrap generators globally.
Forward-thinking
Product launches are always a highlight and the 47th edition of the show in Lyon in October is no exception. Finnish supplier TANA Oy will showcase its Hammerhead shredder, successor to the Shark. Tagged ‘same look, different bite’, it handles higher-volume streams, including green, household, C&D, and commercial and industrial waste.
French start-up Mecaware presents its patented CO₂-based, acid- and sulphate-free process for extracting lithium, cobalt and nickel from batteries.
French start-up Lixo shows how smart sorting can transform collection. It has signed a EUR 188 million, seven-year contract with Veolia to install more than 10 analysis units on collection trucks in the Lille region. Modular and adaptable, Lixo works on all vehicles and detects the following materials in real time:
- black/grey bags
- expanded polystyrene
- oversize cardboard
- textiles
- organic waste & wood
- glass
- medical waste
- bulky items
- plastic bottles
- metal packaging
- gas or nitrous oxide cylinders
Electric touch
On display in the Bpifrance zone, Mecaware’s technology offers a scalable, cleaner route for Europe’s growing battery waste streams.
French pioneer MTB adds weight with its upgraded Zero Waste battery line, first piloted in 2019. It now processes used lithium-ion batteries and gigafactory scrap, achieving over 95% active material recovery, anticipating 2031 EU battery regulation targets.
Material handler specialist Terex Fuchs will promote its F120 MH Electric, a fully electric handler branded a ‘statement to a zero-waste society’, enabling up to 35% energy savings. The company also showcases its G-Series.
The MHL340 ranks among the top international recycling and scrap handlers, while the MHL350 is fast and precise. This portfolio expansion redefines operator comfort and efficiency.
Awards & panels
Smart thinking will also shine in the Pollutec Innovation Awards with 12 winners being announced on 9 October.
The wider programme includes a panel on scaling up sustainable operations, covering eco-design, longer product life cycles, reuse, and material flow mapping. Experts will explore:
- technical, economic, and regulatory levers for circular models
- the role of regional ecosystems, governance and cross-sector synergies
- lessons from pioneers such as Siemens, already applying circular strategies
Greener credits
Novelties at the show reflect France’s anti-waste law and expanding EPR schemes. Event organiser EuroExpo also highlights Pollutec’s role as a policy hub. The Green Days B2B meetings, run with Enterprise Europe Network, foster international collaboration. EU programmes such as LIFE present funding opportunities.
Pollutec itself has also improved its footprint. The 2024 edition achieved a 69% recycling rate, largely by removing 35 000 m² of carpeting, and reusing exhibition materials.
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