T&E: “We need to see the economic opportunity in our waste, instead of the environmental burden” (report)

“Recycling companies in Europe need targeted financial, de-risking and industrial support to compete on the global scene”, states a report published by T&E on 31/07/2026. The report looks at how the Circular Economy Act can equip Europe's recycling industry to scale up, helping secure access to critical minerals.

Recovering materials from end-of-life products such as cars and batteries offers a resilient, sustainable way to secure critical minerals, but “Europe's recycling industry is struggling to scale and compete globally”, T&E says.

Recovering critical minerals (CRMs) like nickel and cobalt from end-of-life vehicles and waste batteries would let Europe cut both its reliance on imports and its need for primary extraction, making for a more sustainable supply. Yet the sector remains…