Recycling: the quiet achiever

As we move through 2026, the non-ferrous markets continue to demonstrate their usual talent for keeping us all humble. Just when participants believe they have found certainty, another geopolitical event, policy shift, freight disruption or sudden change in demand reminds us that our industry remains one of the most dynamic in global trade.

It is worth remembering that recycling remains the quiet achiever in the room: it delivers its supply of vital raw materials and reduces emissions with minimum fuss and fanfare, and without needing to dig another hole in the ground.

Our industry is a complete value chain, and its resilience is so critical to all of our futures. It is this resilience on the part of our members and the wider industry that continually impresses me. The non-ferrous recycling sector has always been a practical industry, filled with problem-solvers: when markets tighten, we adapt; when raw material specifications change, we innovate; and when governments create new paperwork, we reluctantly buy more printers. This entrepreneurial spirit remains one of our greatest assets. We may not control the weather, but we do know how to work in the rain.