Eurometrec voices support for EU copper scrap regulation; hopes for review of criteria

Eurometrec, the EU scrap recyclers’ federation, has voiced its support for an EU regulation determining when copper scrap ceases to be waste, but remains hopeful that a review of the criteria will address concerns about a controversial foreign material limit.

Eurometrec, the EU scrap recyclers’ federation, has voiced its support for an EU regulation determining when copper scrap ceases to be waste, but remains hopeful that a review of the criteria will address concerns about a controversial foreign material limit.

For recycling associations, such as the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) and the British Metals Recycling Assn (BMRA), the EU decision to recommend a 2% foreign materials limit – as opposed to the 5% threshold they had lobbied for – has been met with much resistance, as the BIR estimates that 90-95% of the copper scrap their members process and trade will continue to be classified as waste

Eurometrec, the BIR’s daughter organisation, has reiterated that, despite the lower-than-lobbied-for percentage, it does support a decision on the policy. 

“Eurometrec fully supports that the Council of the European Union [has] come to an agreement on the proposed Council Regulation establishing criteria determining when copper scrap ceases to be waste. Eurometrec thanks those member state experts that also raised [the issue of] the 5% instead of 2% threshold,” Eurometrec President Robert Voss said in a statement

Eurometrec remains hopeful, however, that the threshold could be readdressed in future.

“Crucially, Eurometrec would not want to see the regulation fail to get support at the council on account of the threshold. After all, one of the regulation’s recitals allows for review of the criteria,” Voss added.

Fleur Ritzema
fritzema@metalbulletin.com
Twitter: FleurRitzema_MB

What to read next
The global copper market has finally received the widely anticipated news that imports to the US will be tariffed from August 1. The finer details of the tariffs, including their scope, and whether key copper-exporting nations like Chile, Canada and Peru will be exempt, remain unclear.
LME copper prices took a significant hit following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a potential 50% tariff on copper imports. The uncertainty surrounding the timeline and implementation of the tariff has left market participants hesitant, with analysts noting its immediate impact on price momentum and trading activity.
Fastmarkets has launched MB-AL-0424 Aluminium P1020A premium, fob Indonesia, $/tonne on July 9 due to an expected increase in Indonesia-origin aluminium exports. MB-AL-0424 Aluminium P1020A premium, fob Indonesia, $/tonneQuality: P1020A or 99.7 % Minimum Al purity (Si 0.10% max, Fe 0.20% max) in line with LME specifications. Ingot, T-bar, sowQuantity: Min 500 tonnesLocation: FOB IndonesiaTiming: […]
To increase the transparency of our methodology, Fastmarkets clarifies that the quotation period of the MHP nickel payable indicator is the month of delivery, or the month M. Any data points Fastmarkets received otherwise will be normalized to the M month based on the monthly spreads of the prevailing exchange-traded Class-1 nickel reference price, or […]
'Probably miscalculated’ assumptions at Kakula mine force Ivanhoe to overhaul entire Kamoa-Kakula complex, explains CEO Marna Cloete.
Following an initial consultation with the market, Fastmarkets is proposing to:  The new specifications would be as follows, with amendments in italics: MB-CU-0002 Copper grade 1 cathode premium, ddp Midwest US, US cents/lb Quality: Grade A 99.9935% min copper cathode conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:2022 – Cu-CATH-1 or Grade 1 Electrolytic Copper Cathode ATSM B1115-10 Quantity: Min […]