BIR World Recycling Convention (Round-Table Sessions)

About BIR

Founded in 1948, BIR was the first federation to support the interests of the recycling industry on an international scale. Today, BIR represents over 800 member companies from the private sector and 34 national associations in more than 70 countries. Together, these members form the largest international recycling federation.

The federation provides a dynamic forum for its members to share their knowledge and experience. It serves as a platform to establish successful business relations and to promote recycling among other industrial sectors and policy makers.

BIR is a non-profit organisation under Belgian law. Their statutes (Articles of Association) and Internal Regulations (including Guidelines for Chairpersons) were revised and approved in October 2010. Theregistered office is currently headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

Our Mission

The Bureau of International Recycling promotes materials recycling and facilitates free and fair trade of recyclables in a sustainable and competitive world economy.

Other key goals of BIR and its members are:

• To speak as one voice representing the international recycling industries globally;
• To raise public awareness of their economic and environmental contributions such as the reduction of energy consumption and of greenhouse emissions;
• To promote free trade, the environmentally sound management of resources and the use of recycled materials worldwide;
• To encourage manufacturers to design products with a better understanding of the possibilities for recycling;
• To provide its members with a proper forum to discuss issues of importance to the international recycling community;
• To provide its members, through arbitration, with a fast and efficient means to resolve commercial disputes.

Areas of Work

BIR offers its members timely information about the international recycling markets, their legislative context and the latest technologies. Its work is structured according to the following commodity divisions:

• Non-Ferrous Metals
• Ferrous Metals
• Paper
• Textiles

and commodity committees

• Stainless Steel and Special Alloys
• Plastics
• Tyres
• E-Scrap