Linda McAvan, MEP for Yorkshire and Humber and a member of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, visited the Sheffield sites as part of a fact-finding mission organised by the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA).
BMRA members at two of the UK’s biggest metal recyclers, ELG Haniel Metals and EMR, discussed their concerns about how current EU legislation affects the UK’s metal recycling industry.
MEPs voted in favour of the directive on Tuesday.
Ms McAvan said: “It is always really important to keep in touch with local businesses and their employees, so I was grateful for the opportunity to visit BMRA sites in Sheffield.
“Cutting waste and using resources more efficiently is an important part of our responsibility to the environment and that is why we need to get this legislation right.”
Lindsay Millington, director general of the BMRA, said: “Our members were very pleased that Linda McAvan took the time to learn about their experience of EU legislation and regulation.
“We had very useful discussions and showed Ms McAvan how metal recycling is helping the UK to hit its European recycling targets.”
She added: “It is vital that EU legislation supports the further development of metal recycling, which not only benefits the environment but is also a major contributor to the UK balance of trade.”
The Environmental Services Association (ESA), the trade association for waste management, welcomed MEPs’ vote in favour of the directive.
Chief executive Dirk Hazell said: “ESA is delighted that MEPs have given their seal of approval to the Waste Framework Directive.”
He added that it would “make Europe more economically and environmentally sustainable and marks real progress in building Europe’s Recycling Society”.
Kate Martin