Podcast Summary: Les Clés – "La guerre des métaux (2/2) : la voie du recyclage"

Host: Arnaud Ruyssen (RTBF)
Date: March 17, 2026
Main Guest: Pierre-François Baril, CEO of Comet
Special Report: Sarah Poussey, reporting from Comet recycling facilities
Theme: The vital role and challenges of recycling strategic metals for European autonomy, with a focus on the realities, innovations, and future of the circular economy.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode, the second in a two-part series on the "war of metals," delves deep into the challenges and opportunities of recycling strategic metals in Europe. While the previous episode focused on dependency—primarily on China—for rare and refined metals, this segment seeks solutions: How circular is our current system? What can Europe do to secure more autonomous, sustainable access to critical resources? The host and his guests explore both on-the-ground reality at Belgium’s Comet recycling operations and the broad social, political, and industrial implications.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Inside the World of Metal Recycling — Field Report (00:24–09:50)

• Comet's Operations:
  • Object disposal starts at public recycling parks; items are sent to Comet’s sites for sorting and dismantling.
  • Electronic waste (D3E) includes everything from computers to toys to household appliances.
• Multi-step Process:
  • Manual Sorting & Dismantling (01:59–03:06): Workers sort items by hand and remove hazardous components (batteries, neon, capacitors, ink cartridges).
    • “Ce que je fais ici, c'est un peu la première phase du tri... tout commence par ici.” – Panos, worker (02:29)
  • Mechanical Separation (04:31–08:56):
    • Innovative shredding and sorting: Small electronics go through machines to free batteries; large items go to powerful shredders.
    • Advanced techniques use water density and electromagnetic currents to separate materials (e.g., "zorba" mix of non-ferrous metals).
    • AI and robotics increasingly handle sorting, distinguishing between subtle types of metals via cameras and software.
      • “On fonctionne avec un tri robotisé... des caméras et un programme qui définit les différentes classes de métaux.” – Lucas, technician (08:56)
• Continuous Evolution:
  • Tech is inspired by other industries; new solutions needed due to ever-more complex products.
  • The importance of designing for recycling—engineers get no instruction manual, constant innovation is key.

2. Expert Perspective — Interview with Pierre-François Baril, CEO, Comet (09:58–26:46)

• Scale & Progress (10:10–12:48):

  • Comet handles ~1 million tonnes of waste per year.
  • Belgium is a "leader" in collection and sorting, due to long-established habits and infrastructure.
  • Challenge: Adequate domestic treatment capacity; exporting was common due to lack of industrial processors, but inroads are being made to keep recycling local.
    • “Au niveau de cette logistique-là, aujourd’hui, elle est en place. Ce qui manque... c’est les filières qui vont derrière.” – Baril (12:48)

• Mounting Complications in Recycling (13:33–15:53):

  • Devices are increasingly complex and less recyclable, despite claims of eco-design.
  • Significant manual labor remains (25% of staff do manual dismantling).
  • Mechanical separation has dominated for 20 years, but digital, robotic, and AI-driven separation is the future (e.g., extracting specific metal alloys, not just "aluminum").

• "Reverse Metallurgy" – Rebuilding Industrial Sovereignty (16:22–18:02):

  • Post-deindustrialization, a small consortium (Reverse Metallurgy) has driven innovation and preservation of know-how in Wallonia.
  • Need to rebuild training pipelines for metallurgists and mine engineers.
  • Autonomy isn’t just about materials, but about whole value chains.
    • “Il faut recréer tout ça. La formation, l’acceptation, tous ces éléments là sont pour moi aussi importants que les belles techniques à mettre en oeuvre.” (17:38)

• Design & Policy for Circularity (18:02–23:08):

  • Design Challenges: Objects are made more complex and miniaturized, complicating downstream recycling.
    • “On n’a jamais eu des produits aussi peu éco-conçus qu’aujourd’hui.” (18:44)
  • Eco-Design Solution: Start production with recycled materials, stimulate demand for recycled content.
  • Product Lifespan & Repair: Eric Pirard highlights need to "slow consumption loops"—make products more durable and repairable.
    • “Tous les incitants... doivent aller dans le sens de favoriser des produits qui durent, qui sont plus facilement réparables et surtout plus facilement recyclables.” – Eric Pirard (21:24)
  • Taxing for Circularity: Concept floated for a "tax on degraded value" rather than added value—penalize products that cannot be recycled.
    • “On devrait remplacer la taxe sur la valeur ajoutée par une taxe sur la valeur dégradée...” – Pirard (22:09)
  • Marketing & Disposability: Modern consumer products are driven by marketing trends (unnecessary touchscreens, electronics) that increase complexity and resource consumption.

• Regulation, Fair Competition & European Sovereignty (23:55–26:46):

  • Policy and regulation must internalize social and environmental costs of imported metals.
  • Europe has high standards; imported metals often don’t and undercut local efforts.
    • “Je suis ferrailleur et je ne veux pas qu’on laisse faire ailleurs ce qu’on n’accepte pas chez nous.” – Baril (26:29)
  • If EU wants sovereignty and green industry, there must be tariffs or policies to prevent environmental/social "dumping."
  • Reindustrialization must be done on new, higher standards—not repeating the past's mistakes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Challenge of Modern Device Recycling
  “On n’a jamais eu des produits aussi peu éco-conçus qu’aujourd’hui alors que les programmes de recherche sur l’éco-conception sont très conséquents.”
  — Pierre-François Baril (18:44)

• On the Limits of Current Recycling
  “Il y a des choses qu’on a mises en marché qu’on ne recyclera jamais... il y a des éléments qu’on ne remettra jamais en marché simplement parce qu’aujourd’hui ils ne sont plus acceptables ou acceptés.”
  — Pierre-François Baril (14:13)

• On Policy Solutions
  “On devrait remplacer la taxe sur la valeur ajoutée par une taxe sur la valeur dégradée... certains objets seraient pénalisés par le fait qu’ils rendent la récupération des métaux en fin de vie pratiquement impossible.”
  — Eric Pirard (22:09)

• On European Sovereignty
  “Je suis ferrailleur et je ne veux pas qu’on laisse faire ailleurs ce qu’on n’accepte pas chez nous.”
  — Pierre-François Baril (26:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:24 – Introduction, framing the issue of recycling for strategic autonomy
• 01:09–09:50 – Sarah Poussey’s on-site report from Comet: collection, sorting, mechanical & robotic innovation
• 09:58–26:46 – In-depth interview: Pierre-François Baril on challenges, solutions, circular design, policy, and Europe's position
  • 12:48 – Belgium’s progress and remaining industrial gaps
  • 14:13 – Complexity makes recycling ever harder
  • 16:22 – Industrial heritage and the "Reverse Metallurgy" initiative
  • 18:44 – Eco-design and the failure to conceive with recyclability in mind
  • 20:09 – Consumer role, regulatory possibilities
  • 21:24 – Eric Pirard: Need to slow the loop of consumption
  • 22:09 – Fiscal reform ideas for promoting recycling
  • 26:29 – Baril's call for fair international standards and economic safeguards

Tone & Style

The episode is factual, measured, and at times passionate—especially about the need for strategic and ecological reform in Europe. Both the host and guests maintain a didactic, explanatory, and somewhat urgent tone, driving home the complexity and importance of circularity for resource autonomy.

Conclusion

This episode of Les Clés offers a granular, inside look at how metal recycling works today—its technological ingenuity, hidden labor, and the difficulties posed by increasingly complex consumer goods. It sets these everyday realities within wider debates on European sovereignty, sustainability policy, and economic fairness, pointing toward a urgently-needed transformation in design, regulation, and societal priorities.