The intensive use of resources, particularly non-renewable ones, puts pressure on our planet and threatens the security of supply.
Waste recovery and industrial activities classed as "recycling" represent an essential source of supply for a large part of the industrial system.
Through material recovery and recycling, the recycle economy makes a significant contribution to the general eco-efficiency of the system, providing substantial savings in energy and the use of non-renewable resources and also allowing sizeable emission reductions, during both manufacturing and end-of-life disposal.
Throughout the world, but also in Italy, the recycling industry and the main manufacturers' collective compliance schemes are researching innovative applications in the sectors of building materials, ceramics, design and medicine. The success of this research is crucial to creating a "circular economy", the basis for a society that recycles, with the aim of reducing the amount of waste generated and reusing it as a resource.
As regards electronic waste, this would allow achievement of the environmental objectives set by the European Directive for this type of waste. For example, in the absence of new industrial applications for TV glass, this would be sent for landfill disposal with the result that 50% of the weight of these appliances could not be recycled.
Besides the strong environmental benefit, financial savings could also be achieved with a fall in raw material costs and a notable reduction in volumes sent to landfill.