Melbourne / Brussels — On July 5, 2026, Australia's recycling industry issued an urgent call to increase domestic waste plastic supply to address a worsening raw material shortage. According to AP, multiple Australian recycling companies stated that current domestic waste plastic recovery rates are far from meeting growing demand for recycled plastics processing, leading to increased reliance on imported raw materials.
Meanwhile, the EU delivered two significant policy developments on the same day:
The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) called on the EU to swiftly unify the "End of Waste" criteria for chemical recycling, warning that without harmonized standards, investment will be delayed and the EU's 2030 recycling targets will be jeopardized. Divergent classification of chemical recycling products among member states is currently hindering industry scaling.
The European Commission formally adopted rules for calculating recycled content in PET bottles, bringing Chemical Recycling within the scope of application, providing chemical recycling enterprises with clear compliance criteria in the EU market. Industry sees this as a significant step toward commercializing the chemical recycling sector.
Global Perspective: Against the backdrop of accelerating global plastic circular economy, the strategic value of waste plastic feedstock continues to rise. IGAD member states in Gujarat, India are also actively promoting regional joint actions to address plastic pollution challenges.
Source: AP, Cefic, Replasinfo | July 6, 2026
