Business · Companies · 10 hrs ago
Italy’s plastic recycling sector faces an unprecedented crisis, trade group warns
Italy’s plastic recovery and recycling sector is in an unprecedented crisis, according to Unirima, a trade group for companies that collect and recycle waste materials.
Businesses face higher operating costs while prices for recovered plastic have fallen.
At the same time, demand for recycled materials is shrinking, making it harder for recyclers to sell what they process.
Cheap virgin plastic, made from new raw materials, is also undercutting recycled plastic.
EU restrictions have blocked plastic exports to countries outside the bloc, removing markets that had taken some of the material.
Unirima says there are no available industrial alternatives to absorb those flows.
The group is calling for stronger demand and use of recycled materials, alongside workable alternatives as the export restrictions take effect.
Unirima warns that Italy’s plastic recovery and recycling sector is facing an unprecedented structural crisis.
Rising operating costs, falling prices for recovered materials and shrinking markets are putting pressure on businesses.
Low-cost virgin plastics and weaker demand for recycled materials are making recycling less competitive.
Unirima calls for support for demand and use of recycled materials, and for alternatives to markets affected by new EU export restrictions.
- Who
- Unirima, Italy’s association of businesses involved in collecting, recovering, recycling and trading waste paper and other materials.
- What
- Unirima warned that the plastic recovery sector is facing an unprecedented structural crisis.
- When
- The warning was reported on 2 November 2026.
- Where
- Italy.
- Why
- Rising costs, falling prices for recovered materials, weaker demand and fewer commercial outlets are undermining the sector.
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- Trade group
- Unirima
- Sector
- Recovery of plastics from economic activities
- Reported
- 2 November 2026
- Pressure
- Rising operating costs and falling prices for recovered materials
- Export restrictions
- New EU restrictions affect plastic exports to countries outside the EU