Challenges for process industries in recycling*

Increasing population and individual wealth have led to a higher demand for energy and raw material resources as well as for steady improvement of processing technology in view of efficient use of resources and avoiding emissions in production and recycling processes. Present situation and future trend of recycling processing are discussed by examples from the aluminium and steel industries, recycling of cars and post-consumer municipal recovery. The importance of more intense observance of thermodynamic laws and of a 4E strategy “Economy, Energy, Environment and Education” is outlined.