Spain: Recycling, a 5 billion euro game

The Spanish enterprises involved in recycling amount to nearly 2% of the GDP and turn over more than 5,000 million Euros. This sector is made up of more than 200 firms, although up to about 20,000 small and medium-sized enterprises take part in activities related to recycling. It generates more than 25,000 direct and more than 100,000 indirect jobs.

Specifically concerning car scrapping and due to a massive investment in research and development, this sector is the most technologically advanced in Europe, which is proved by the fact that big European, American and Asiatic car companies such as BMW, Fiat, General Motors, Toyota and Kia have adopted the Spanish techniques for waste treatment in order to comply with EU environmental rules. More than 80% of cars are made up of metallic elements, which Spain integrally recycles thus placing itself above the European average.

Workers in this sector have also increasingly professionalized and have currently nothing to see with the traditional figure of the ?scrap dealer?. In fact, all individuals involved with the collection of materials to be recycled must hold a license allowing them to manage waste.

More info
www.recuperacion.org