UN Environment Chief Urges Recycling of Key Rare Metals

Sept. 29, 2010
Rare earths are available in only small quantities and mined in a few locations, raising fears that global supply for a clean, high-tech economy could be exhausted swiftly as well as hampered by geopolitical disputes.

Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Program, on Sept. 29, called for a global drive to recycle rare metals that have hit the headlines in a spat between Japan and China, warning that they are crucial for green technologies.

He said that demand for "rare earth metals" such as lithium and neodymium -- used in batteries for hybrid cars or components in wind and solar power -- was accelerating fast. Rare earths are available in only small quantities and mined in a few locations, raising fears that global supply for a clean, high-tech economy could be exhausted swiftly as well as hampered by geopolitical disputes.

"There is both a strategic as much as an environmental or an economic rationale to rapidly look at making these metals part of a recycling economy," Steiner said, insisting on the need for an economically stable green tech industry. There is "an immense increase in demand for rare (earth) metals that are central to the green and high tech economy future ... from the electronics industry, car industry and energy industry," he said.

Industry sources said on Sept. 29 that China has moved towards resuming exports of rare earths to Japan that were disrupted by amid a bitter territorial dispute in recent weeks. Beijing has repeatedly denied claims it blocked the shipments of rare earths, which Japan's crucial high tech electronics and manufacturing industry rely on.

A UNEP-hosted panel of experts highlighted the concerns about rare earth or specialty metals in May, estimating that only one percent was recycled at the end of a product's life while the rest was discarded. By comparison, the International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management estimated that common metals such as steel, aluminum, copper and tin have 25% to 75% recycling rates, in some instances exceeding fresh raw material supplies from mining.

Steiner said that, based on current knowledge, some rare earths "may be exhausted, as with peak oil, on a time horizon of 30 to 40 years."

Officials said supplies of such rare metals were confined to a limited number of countries, including Australia, China, Venezuela, Bolivia and the United States, while extraction was complex and costly.

"What is the world doing to address the issue of recyling because these metals don't have to end up in ... in the waste dumps of the world," Steiner said.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Optimizing Connected, Resilient Supply Chains in 2024

Dec. 19, 2023
Discover how manufacturers fortify supply chains amidst change, explore the 2024 manufacturing industry outlook and delve into Gen AI for resilient supply chains.

5 Critical Controls for World-Class OT Cybersecurity

March 13, 2023
Learn how to align your leadership and implement a successful Operational Technology (OT) security posture.

Decarbonizing Your Supply Chain: Striving for Net Zero

Feb. 12, 2024
Manufacturers face mounting pressure to decarbonize operations and supply chains. Meeting regulatory goals demands bold action and transparency. Collaboration with suppliers offers...

SEC Cybersecurity Rules: What’s Your Regulatory Risk?

Feb. 27, 2024
Join us for an insightful exploration of the evolving cyber threat landscape, SEC rule implications, and collaborative strategies to secure critical IT and OT networks in the ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!