Berlin – The copper recycling company Aurubis AG is joining the PREVENT Waste Alliance today. The aim of the alliance, which was initiated by German Development Minister Gerd Müller, is to avoid, collect and recycle waste worldwide, to make greater use of secondary raw materials and to keep resources in the cycle. Aurubis will be particularly involved in the topic of electronic waste.
Minister Gerd Müller: “I am pleased that recycling companies like Aurubis AG are taking responsibility and getting involved in the PREVENT Waste Alliance. Just like climate change, dealing with waste is a global survival issue. Industrialised countries make up only 20 percent of the world’s population, but consume 80 percent of the resources and leave behind two-thirds of the pollution. At Africa’s largest e-waste site in Ghana, I saw for myself how our e-waste is illegally disposed of in Africa to the detriment of the environment. This cannot continue. We need a rethink for socially and ecologically sustainable supply chains and a controlled circular economy. That is why it is important that the topic of metal recycling is strengthened with Aurubis joining the PREVENT Waste Alliance. The Waste Alliance now includes about 220 organisations in Germany and other countries: from municipal waste management companies to large corporations. Together we are working to ensure that less waste ends up in the environment worldwide.”
Roland Harings, CEO of Aurubis AG: “With our membership in the PREVENT Waste Alliance, we are seeking an open, partnership-based exchange with industry representatives, politicians and scientists in order to contribute Aurubis’ experience in the field of recycling. We share the conviction that there is great potential in Africa through the development of a sustainable circular economy.”
Aurubis AG actively contributes its expertise in extracting valuable metals, even from complex e-waste, to the Waste Alliance network. The PREVENT Waste Alliance’s e-waste working group develops solutions for the safe treatment of problematic e-waste such as batteries. For example, a sustainable concept for e-waste management is being tested in Ecuador.
Initiated under the patronage of the German Development Minister Gerd Müller, the PREVENT Waste Alliance was founded in May 2019. It brings together stakeholders from business, science and civil society and promotes approaches to reduce waste worldwide. Municipalities and their waste management companies are key partners. The aim of the members is to prevent, collect and recycle waste in developing and emerging countries and to make greater use of secondary raw materials.
Source: Press release of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development www.bmz.de
