Recap: What happened on the recycling stage in 2025?

Challenge remains a buzzword while entrepreneurs are looking to pursue new opportunities. Growing public and government support for the circular economy is evident, resulting in more investments and greater innovation.

Trends in 2025 include:

• The automotive and battery waste streams are becoming ever more interconnected due to the rise of electric vehicles. Market analysts expect global e-car sales to have topped 18.5 million units in 2025 
• Analysts are warning of structural copper deficits beyond 2030
• Steelmakers are more conscious of ‘green steel’ and are favouring cleaner electric arc furnaces
• Ship recyclers seek a better reputation, even those in Asia who have faced strong criticism on environmental and safety grounds. More EU-approved sites have been opened and dismantlers are investing in new technologies and safer practices. One recent headline suggested the infamous Alang shipbreaking yard in India was ‘dying’ 
• Aluminium recyclers have been busier, jointly recycling 39 million tonnes of scrap this year compared to under 30 million tonnes in 2024. With a 25% market share, the biggest segment is building and construction.
• The lightweighting trend in the automotive and aviation sector is significantly boosting recycling activity in the aluminium market
• Vehicle recyclers are including more recycled content and recycling more parts back into new parts, rather than downcycling
• Battery recyclers are scrambling to meet demand. Cobalt, manganese and lithium are still far from being commercially recycled, though innovative techniques are scaling up.

The world’s most sustainable cities are said to be:

1. Copenhagen, Denmark
2. Oslo, Norway
3. Zurich, Switzerland
4. London, UK
5. Stockholm, Sweden
6. Singapore
7. Amsterdam, Netherlands
8. Sydney, Australia
9. New York City, USA
10. Munich, Germany

Metals snapshot

Toyota Tsusho America acquired Radius Recycling in a deal valued at approximately EUR 1.34 billion, marking one of the largest metals recycling transactions of 2025. It strengthens Radius’s footprint in automotive scrap and non‑ferrous recycling in the US market, supported by Toyota Tsusho’s balance sheet and technology integration.

Germany’s Aurubis commissioned a new multi-metals recycling plant in Richmond, Georgia, its first greenfield smelter in the US in over a century, and secured multi‑million‑Euro financing from the European Investment Bank to expand copper recycling capacity in Europe. This reflects renewed investment in critical metal feedstock and transatlantic growth.

Mexican recycler Century Recycling committed EUR 50 million to build an aluminium recycling facility in Mission, South Texas, creating more than 300 jobs and expanding linkage with cross‑border supply chains. Breaking ground is planned for January 2026.

Additionally, several R&D projects and start-ups are targeting rare earth metals. For instance, US firm Cyclic Materials is constructing a US$ 25 million ‘centre of excellence’ for rare earth recycling in Kingston, Ontario. Operations are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

Paper & cardboard snapshot

US firm FV Recycling, based in Mississippi, acquired Mid America Paper Recycling, one of the largest independent brokers, processors and exporters of recovered materials in the Midwest. It is set to process 900 000 tonnes of material a year.

Packaging Corp. of America completed the EUR 1.8 billion acquisition of Greif’s containerboard unit. The deal adds mills in Virginia and Ohio with a combined capacity of 800 000 tonnes of recycled packaging annually. It tightens PCA’s position in the North American recycled paper and containerboard market.

Separately, Cascades accelerated operations at its Bear Island, Virginia plant while closing its Niagara Falls site. The move reflects industry consolidation as recyclers optimise production around higher‑demand cardboard grades.

Plastics snapshot

Packaging recyclers are becoming more ambitious in line with more strict legislation regarding food-grade recyclates. Plastics recyclers are fighting challenging economics due to low virgin prices and high energy costs.

Trioworld inaugurated its state-of-the-art plastic recycling facility in Korsberga, Sweden, in October. The new plant is capable of processing up to 25 000 tonnes of waste annually, sourced from the hospital sector, industrial stretch films and agricultural bale wrap.

Clean Vision’s new pyrolysis facility in West Virginia began feeding plastics waste into advanced recycling processes ahead of full commercial output. Though specific investments were not disclosed, the site represents a growing regional footprint for converting mixed plastics to fuels and chemical feedstocks.

Several chemical recycling projects were paused or cancelled due to the economic situation, including ExxonMobil halting approximately EUR 100 million initiatives in Antwerp and Rotterdam. Both sites were due to process at least 40 000 tonnes a year.

Battery snapshot

European commodities giant Glencore finalised the acquisition of Li‑Cycle’s battery recycling assets for roughly EUR 40 million, rescuing a major North American advanced recycling platform and positioning itself in the middle of EV material flows.

Poland offered up to EUR 290 million in grants to support Ascend Elements’ battery recycling and precursor cathode active material facility. This project will produce recycled nickel‑manganese‑cobalt materials for EV supply chains and is a key EU battery circularity initiative.

Japan’s Marubeni invested about EUR 5 million into UK battery recycler Altilium. The capital injection supports expansion of EV battery processing toward a target of 24 000 packs in 2026 and expanded capacity by 2030.

German waste services group PreZero acquired RE.LION.BAT Circular and its battery recycling facility in Meppen, boosting capacity to around 30 000 tonnes annually with potential expansion to 60 000 tonnes — a meaningful scale‑up in Europe’s critical metals recycling capacity.

Green Li‑ion and EcoPro Materials signed a letter of intent to supply NCM hydroxide from recycled battery outputs from the Atoka facility in Oklahoma, USA for at least five years starting in 2026, signalling longer‑term market linkage for recycled battery materials.

E-scrap snapshot

Several e‑waste and electronics recyclers pursued public listings and equipment licensing agreements. One and One Green Technologies filed for a EUR 14 million IPO to fund expansion beyond the Philippines, while Creative Global completed a EUR 5.7 million listing to broaden international consumer electronics recycling operations.

Ace Green Recycling signed licensing agreements with Mel Metal in Armenia and Georgia for lead and lithium battery recycling equipment, demonstrating global technology transfer and capacity building in emerging markets.

Eyantram Waste Management invested roughly EUR 2.3 million in a new e‑waste recycling plant in Visakhapatnam, India. The facility will process medical and electronic scrap, serving Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states.