BIR AT A GLANCE
- the sole global recycling federation
- founded in 1948
- represented in 72 countries
- about 800 international members, of which
- 37 national recycling associations
- some 760 individual companies
- a diversified commodity structure:
- 4 commodity divisions: iron & steel, non-ferrous metals, paper, textiles
- 4 committees for stainless steel & special alloys, plastics, tyres/rubber and e-scrap
- 2 World Recycling Conventions per year
- an interactive website with online membership directory
- a regular information service with commodity world mirrors, statistics and newsletters.
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.
