BIR News

Monte Carlo Serves as BIR Spring Host

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), Brussels, is putting the final planning into its Spring Convention, which will take place May 28-31 in Monte Carlo.

The international scrap recycling organization is touting the "networking opportunities, high-profile presentations by key players of the international business world, highly relevant market reports and exciting social programs" that make up the convention.

The Monte Carlo Convention will have as its theme the motto "Success is a matter of choice."

The BIR describes the setting of this year’s Convention as "absolutely stunning. Monte Carlo offers golden sunshine that turns the soft waves of the Mediterranean sea into a sparkling firework of colors. A bright blue sky contrasts with the immaculate white of sailing boats floating by.

The Monte Carlo Grand Hotel, which is like a ship anchored at shore right on the waterfront, caters to its guests while the city itself is one big sightseeing monument.

Convention participants will be invited a to Welcome Reception under the auspices of the Principality of Monaco, which will take place in the lavishly decorated Salle Empire of the Hotel de Paris.

The Annual Dinner will take place in the charming setting of one of the most picturesque hotels in Monte Carlo: the Old Beach Hotel. BIR exhibitors are co-sponsoring the dinner event.

Members of BIR automatically receive invitations to BIR’s bi-annual conventions, which are reserved for representatives of BIR member firms and member associations. However, a special observer status can be granted to non-member companies involved in the recycling of ferrous and nonferrous metals, stainless steel and special alloys, paper, textiles, plastics and rubber. They can be either brokers, processors, merchants, mill representatives or equipment manufacturers.

The three-day Spring Conventions and two-day Fall Conventions bring together 600 or more businesspeople and recycling experts from more than 50 nations. Attendees can meet and do business, monitor the latest developments on the world market, get acquainted with innovative equipment technology and be informed of legislation that regulates the global recycling industry.

The Commodity Division and Committee meetings, for which the BIR provides simultaneous translation into English, French and German, offer an in-depth analysis of the current market situation and future trends for metals, paper and other recycled materials. Trading sessions for attendees with similar business interests often follow the Commodity Division meetings.

BIR to Unveil New Web Format

A redesigned BIR Web site, found at www.bir.org, will be debuted at the BIR Spring Convention in Monte Carlo. Extended membership services and increased information availability on recycling issues will be stressed on the redesigned Web site.

An Internet Sub-Committee with Robert Stein of Louis Padnos Iron & Metals, Holland, Mich., as its chairperson, has been focusing on a much broader use of the Web site as one of the main communication tools of the world recycling federation.

Although the sub-committee is part of the BIR Communications Committee, which is chaired by former BIR President Jean Pierre Lehoux of France, the sub-committee is also drawing input from the BIR’s Membership Committee, with new Chairman Robert Voss of Voss International in the U.K. contributing ideas to boost membership services.

A completely redesigned Web site, which is currently being developed with the technical support of public relations assistant Philip Muller, a recently-hired member of the BIR staff in Brussels, will be presented at the 2002 Spring Convention.

Another new feature will be an online registration form for the BIR Spring Convention in Monte Carlo. The online form has been designed to allow members to register with less paperwork.

World Mirror is New Report Format

The BIR, which has long made its global commodity reports available to those in the recycling industry, has designed a new report format.

The World Mirror is the name under which commodity reports on scrap paper, nonferrous metals and other commodities will be distributed by the BIR.

The nonferrous version of the World Mirror will be issued monthly on the BIR’s Web site, and can also be sent in a paper version or in an e-mailed format to BIR members.

The BIR’s Paper Division will now also release its quarterly market reports under the World Mirror banner. Coinciding with the paper report will be more quarterly news on ferrous scrap, stainless steel and textile markets.