At the BIR World Recycling Convention & Exhibition 2026 in Gothenburg (31 May–3 June), a key announcement from the Electrics, Electronics and EV Batteries Committee marked a strategic shift in how the recycling sector defines itself. The Committee has officially been renamed the Electronics Committee, reflecting a move toward simpler, more accessible terminology in a rapidly evolving industry.
The decision was announced during a plenary session on 2 June, where delegates discussed how language influences perceptions of the recycling sector and its value within global material recovery systems.
According to Committee Chair Josephita Harry of Pan American Zinc LLC, the updated name is intended to be “short and simple” while better reflecting the increasingly complex material streams handled by the sector, particularly in electronics and battery recycling.
The session also featured discussions on critical raw materials recovery, with presentations highlighting both opportunities and challenges in Europe’s recycling ecosystem. A key focus was the recovery of materials from electronic waste, including hard disk drive magnets and electric vehicle batteries.
Dr Spyros Karamoutsos of ECORESET (Greece) emphasised the complexity of electronic waste streams and the urgent need for improved labelling, harmonised classification systems, and closer collaboration across manufacturers, recyclers, and regulators. He noted that clearer identification of material composition is essential for improving recovery rates of critical raw materials.
Attention also turned to the growing importance of electric vehicles in global material demand. Alexandre Gouy of the International Energy Agency highlighted that EV adoption is accelerating, with critical implications for lithium, nickel, and cobalt demand. He noted that recycling capacity is currently concentrated in China, but new facilities are expected to emerge in Europe and North America as end-of-life battery volumes increase.
The discussion also underscored the importance of collection efficiency in determining the long-term viability of battery recycling. Variations in collection rates could significantly impact the proportion of critical mineral demand met through secondary production.
A broader debate on industry communication closed the session, focusing on how terminology such as “waste” influences public and policy perception. Speakers including John Sacco of Sierra International Machinery advocated for replacing “scrap” and “waste” with “recycled materials” to better reflect the industry’s value in emissions reduction and circular economy systems.
The session concluded with a shared view that recycling is becoming a core pillar of the global energy transition, requiring not only technological advancement but also improved communication, branding, and policy alignment to fully realise its potential.
