METAL RECOVERY REGULATIONS

Scrap Metal: From Waste to Valuable Resources

The recovery of scrap metal is a crucial step in the transformation of waste into secondary raw materials, ready to be reintroduced into production cycles. This process not only reduces dependence on natural resources but also promotes sustainability and compliance with European regulations governing the management and recycling of metals.

Scrap metal, once considered waste, can be recovered and processed to become valuable materials for new productions. This transformation is governed by specific European regulations that define the necessary requirements for scrap to cease to be classified as waste and become secondary raw materials of certified quality.

EU Regulation No. 333/2011

EU Regulation No. 333/2011 establishes the criteria according to which scrap iron, steel, and aluminium can lose their waste classification. These criteria include:

• The need for treatment processes that ensure the removal of foreign materials and impurities.
• Compliance with specific quality standards, such as chemical composition and the absence of contaminants.
• The requirement for documentation certifying compliance with the required requirements.

This regulation was a fundamental step in promoting the valorisation of recycled metals in industry.

EU Regulation No. 715/2013

EU Regulation No. 715/2013 extends the end-of-waste criteria to copper scrap. Again, treatment must ensure that the materials are free from contamination and meet stringent quality standards. This regulation further encourages the recovery and valorisation of copper as a strategic resource.