Page 21 from: January / February 2012

21January/February 2012

Reinforcing identities
Indeed, Mr Voss and Mr Bird believe there is

potential value in Eurometrec and EFR looking

to reinforce their individual identities, with

perhaps even a greater degree of self-sufficien-

cy. ‘We have our own identity – particularly at

the European Commission,’ explains the

former, ‘and have become much more impor-

tant at the global level. Our existence helps BIR,

the world body for recycling, which currently

provides our secretarial services, to focus on

world issues – such as networking, trade, the

environment, arbitration, etc. – and so we, EFR

and ERPA shoulder some of the huge EU bur-

den, which is a full-time job. The federations

work well and closely together but it’s impor-

tant that Eurometrec develops its own identity.’

What could this mean in practical terms? Both

men talk of the possibility of adding resources

particular to their own organisations. ‘We are

looking at funding issues and extra personnel

because it takes a lot of time to, for example,

prepare paperwork when making submissions

at EU level,’ says Mr Voss.

And Mr Bird adds: ‘We work alongside organ-

isations like Eurofer on a lot of key issues of

mutual interest. To help the scrap industry

ensure the best and most effective working rela-

tionship with them, it is appropriate for EFR to

develop its profile – possibly through develop-

ing its own infrastructure. This would help in

attracting new members and add to its clout.’

There is no suggestion of the two bodies loos-

ening their strong ties with their joint secre-

tariat. ‘There would still be a lot of cross-ferti-

lisation within the secretariat,’ insists Mr Bird.

‘But if we could raise the profile of EFR and

increase its strength, this could only help the

representation of the industry in the EU.’

O R G A N I S A T I O N S

A brief guide to EFR

EFR, or in full the European Ferrous Recovery and Recycling Federation, is located in Brussels and was
created in 1992 from COFENAF, the Liaison Committee for ferrous scrap within the EU formed many
years earlier.
EFR members are national associations and federations in the EU member states representing the
interests of commercial fi rms that are primarily involved in the collection, trade, processing and recycling
of ferrous scrap. In the EU, more than 1000 large companies and SMEs are represented through EFR.
In addition to providing representation for the sector at EU authority and institution level, EFR’s pri-
mary functions include monitoring and responding appropriately to all commercial, legal, environmen-
tal and technical issues relating to the trading, recovery, processing, recycling and transportation of
ferrous metals scrap and alloys by the member associations and their affi liated fi rms. It is also respon-
sible for gathering, exchanging and disseminating information of benefi t to the membership.
A key early success was the removal of quotas on ferrous scrap exports in the 1980s. Although trade
issues are still a major priority for EFR, environmental legislation has come to occupy more of its time
over recent years.
In December 2000, EFR set up the European Shredder Group which represents the interests of Euro-
pean shredder operators in light of the implementation of the EU Directive on End-of-Life Vehicles.

The background to Eurometrec

The European Metal Trade and Recycling Federation, better known as Eurometrec, was formed in 1990
from the Liaison Committee for non-ferrous metals trade within the EU, which was itself formed in
1969. Its members are national federations in EU member states representing the interests of large
companies and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are primarily involved in the collection, trade,
processing and recycling of non-ferrous scrap.
Eurometrec ensures a permanent liaison between the accredited representatives of the national member
federations and the European institutions – including the European Commission, the European Parliament
and the Council of Ministers – and also with relevant organisations inside and outside the EU.
Eurometrec seeks to promote non-ferrous metals recycling, to encourage free trade and use of second-
ary non-ferrous metals, and to improve business opportunities for the industry. Its role also encom-
passes monitoring and studying all commercial, legal, environmental and technical aspects of the
trading, processing, recycling and transportation of non-ferrous metals by member associations and
their affi liated fi rms in the EU.

One of the most recent boosts for EU ferrous and non-ferrous
scrap operators has involved securing end-of-waste status for
aluminium scrap as well as iron and steel scrap.

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