COP22 Marrakech: BIR World President promotes recycling industry’s important role in climate change mitigation

BIR organises Global Recycling Day to put focus on the benefits of recycling

Ranjit S. Baxi, President of the world recycling body, the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), advocated the establishment of a Global Recycling Day to highlight the benefits of recycling in climate change mitigation. Representing the international recycling industry at the Conference of the Parties COP22 in Marrakech, Mr Baxi also said recycling should be added to the agenda of future climate change negotiations.

He noted the contribution of the recycling industry to climate change mitigation by saving at least 700 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, an estimate based on the findings of a scientific study published at the beginning of 2016. This is in line with the UN’s Climate Neutral initiative.

With the aim of further enhancing the recycling industry’s important role in the reduction of carbon emissions, President Baxi has made it one of the main objectives of his presidency to organise a Global Recycling Day in cooperation with supranational organisations, national governments and local communities, supported by BIR’s strong network of national recycling associations across the globe. His presence in Marrakech provided him the opportunity to reach out to stakeholders to come on board for this important project.

“The vital role that recycling plays in safeguarding our planet for future generations is little known,” he said. “That’s why I’ve made it my mission to work with national governments, local authorities, our member associations and many others to establish a Global Recycling Day.  I would also like to see recycling added to the agenda of COP talks in future so that it is embedded in the psyche of climate negotiators.”