European Parliament, Brussels, 4 June 2025
Urban mining is emerging as a crucial strategy for sustainable resource management, helping to reduce dependency on primary raw materials while promoting circular economy principles. This event, co-organised by the European Federation of Geologists (EFG), RemTech Expo, the Geological Survey of Belgium, Geologica Belgica Luxemburga (GBLsp) and the Horizon Europe FIC-Fighters project, will bring together experts from policy, industry, and geoscience to explore how urban mining can support Europe’s transition to a more resilient and resource-efficient economy.
Geologists play a fundamental role in identifying, mapping, and assessing secondary raw material sources within urban environments. From construction and demolition waste to electronic waste and industrial by-products, the extraction and recovery of valuable materials from anthropogenic sources can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of resource exploitation. However, realising the full potential of urban mining requires coordinated action across multiple sectors, including innovative technologies, supportive policies, and financial incentives at the local, national, and EU levels.
Hosted by Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Susana Solís Pérez, this breakfast debate will feature a high-level interactive roundtable discussion with representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), industry leaders, geoscience experts, and NGO representatives. Together, they will address key challenges and opportunities related to urban mining, including:
Participants will gain insights into how different stakeholders can collaborate to unlock the potential of urban mining and drive investment in secondary raw material recovery. The event will also highlight the importance of recognising geologists’ expertise in resource management and sustainability, reinforcing their role in shaping the circular economy.
A brochure with the detailed programme can de found here.
Please note that this event is by invitation and only registered participants can be accepted. For capacity reasons, everyone is required to register for the event, even those who already have an European Parliament badge. Light breakfast will be served. To express your interest in participating in this event, please reach out to events_at_eurogeologists.eu.
