Page 11 from: May 2014

N E W S
For more daily free global recycling news, visit
www.recyclinginternational.com

The European Parliament has
largely welcomed stringent EU measures
to reduce the use of plastic carrier bags,
ENDS Europe has reported. Industry
opposition to reduction targets and
mandatory pricing for lightweight plas-
tic bags was defeated on April 16 by 539
votes to 51, with 72 abstentions.
The European Parliament has agreed
that use of these bags should be cut by
50% by 2017 and 80% by 2019. Most
MEPs were also in favour of preferential
treatment for biodegradable and com-
postable bags, as recommended by fel-
low MEP Margrete Auken from the
Greens/EFA group.
Her call to phase out carcinogenic, muta-
genic and reprotoxic (CMR) substances
and endocrine disruptors was also met
with enthusiasm. Additionally, amend-
ments exempting the fast-food industry
from the directive were rejected.
Trade body PlasticsEurope and packag-
ing association Europen were both ‘very
alarmed’ by the outcome of the vote. The
former fears the move could ‘weaken
one of the success stories of the Euro-
pean Union: the Single Market’. Accord-
ing to PlasticsEurope’s executive director

Karl Foerster, a ban on plastic bags is no
solution to the problem of ‘irresponsible
disposal’. He explains: ‘The Parliament’s
plan leads to a situation in which some
countries ban plastic bags, while others
allow them. Such a patchwork of rules
is against the idea of the existing legisla-
tion and detrimental to the free move-
ment of goods in Europe.’
Environmental groups largely welcomed
the move although Seas at Risk strong-
ly criticised the support for biodegrad-
able and compostable bags owing to
their contribution to marine littering.
www.plasticseurope.org

A ‘patchwork’ bid to trim
Europe’s plastic bags?

A team of Dubai-based inventors
is on the verge of launching an innova-
tive recycling bin that displays in detail
the amount and value of plastics, paper,
metals and other recyclables saved by
consumers. The sense of interactivity is
perfectly suited to the community cul-
ture of the United Arab Emirates, says
the entrepreneur who came up with the
idea Mostafa Nassar.
The bin is equipped with scales to mea-
sure how much material has been depos-
ited while its customised processor sends
the data to an interactive screen. Nassar,
who works as business development
manager at WMS Metal Industries,

started on his patent-pending idea with
little over US$ 500 at his disposal. A live
demonstration, however, soon ensured
the backing of the Masdar Institute of
Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi.
The recycling bin is ‘more personal’ and
‘shows exactly how we can impact the
environment’, according to Nassar. He
now wants to develop a second recycling
bin and hopes to market the solution both
in the UAE and beyond. ‘We got used to
the UAE importing innovation and relying
on the world to create this stuff, and we
wanted to do the exact opposite,’ he
points out. www.wmsmi.com
Source: The National

The UAE’s more
personal recycling bin

Business
Scholz/Toyota
Toyota Tsusho, which forms part of Japan’s Toyota Group, is taking a 39.9%
share in German ferrous and non-ferrous scrap recycler Scholz. Subject to
approval by anti-trust authorities, Toyota is expected to complete the purchase
before the end of the second quarter. Oliver Scholz will remain in his role as ceo.
He comments that the move will ‘signifi cantly strengthen’ Scholz’s fi nancial
situation. www.scholz-ag.de/en

Aleris
US-based aluminium rolled and extruded product giant Aleris is ‘formally evalu-
ating the potential sale of its recycling and specifi cation alloys businesses’.
Chairman and ceo Steve Demetriou has commented: ‘While the businesses
remain steady and profi table with excellent long-term growth potential, we are
always reviewing our operations to ensure that Aleris is optimising the value of
its portfolio.’ www.aleris.com

Heavy Handling
Heavy Handling, the Belgian distributor of heavy machinery, is set to open a
‘central hub’ for service, spare parts and stock of machines in Antwerp. It will
act as a prime location for distribution and service for Belgium and Luxembourg.
This ‘natural expansion’ is supported by the company’s supplying brands like
Mantsinen and Ljungby Maskin. www.heavyhandling.be

Al Khaliji Bank
Al Khaliji Bank is fi nancing ‘one of the largest greenfi eld projects’ for recycling
materials in Qatar. The new plant will cost roughly US$ 33 million and has been
designed to process scrap tyres and other rubber materials. The facility will cover
20 000 square metres and treat waste from Mesaieed Industrial City.

Quality Circular Polymers
Quality Circular Polymers is building a new plastics recycling operation at Geleen
in the south of the Netherlands. Once at full production, the Euro 75 million
(US$ 103 million) site will have the capacity to process 100 000 tonnes of
polypropylene and polyethylene per year and will boast around 100 direct
employees. The facility is set to open next year. www.qcpolymers.com

Armco/Midland Resources
Chinese recycler and iron ore distributor Armco Metals has entered into a steel
scrap supply agreement with Midland Resources Co. The deal will see Armco
Metals become a sourcing agent for the Hong Kong-based business to import
ferrous scrap into China. This new strategic plan will help ‘stabilise margins’ and
achieve ‘sustained profi tability’. www.armcometals.com

Novelis
The US-based Red Hare Brewing Company is to become the fi rst commercial
user of Novelis’ evercan, which is made of a guaranteed minimum 90% recycled
content. The packaging, containing a craft beer, is expected to be on store shelves
from May in ‘key markets’ in the south east of the USA. www.novelis.com

Steinert
Major sensor-based sorting systems supplier Steinert is reinforcing its global
sales activities by appointing a head of international sales for after a ‘diffi cult’
year. 2013 was characterised by falling prices for raw materials and low trading
volumes while growth in the American market was ‘disappointing’, the com-
pany says. With this in mind, it intends to focus more on broadening its interna-
tional horizons. www.steinertglobal.com

Follow Recycling International on , and to get your latest recycling news.
Or visit our website www.recyclinginternational.com for extensive daily news service.

RI_4- .indd 11 01-05-14 12:2