Will the global cumulative volume of recycled rare earth elements (REE) used in new technology products exceed 5,000 metric tons in the calendar year 2027?

Rare Earth Recycling: 5,000 Metric Tons Used in 2027

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are crucial for high-tech applications like magnets in EVs, wind turbines, and consumer electronics. Recycling these elements from e-waste is essential for supply chain security and sustainability. This prediction states that the global cumulative volume of recycled REEs used in new technology products will exceed 5,000 metric tons in the calendar year 2027.

Technical and Economic Barriers

The strong 'No' vote reflects the technical and economic difficulty of REE recycling:

• **Low Concentration:** REEs in e-waste are in low concentrations and are difficult to separate from complex alloys.
• **Collection Logistical:** Lack of efficient global collection and pre-processing of e-waste (like discarded phones or hard drives).
• **Cost:** Primary mining often remains cheaper than complex recycling processes.

A 'Yes' scenario requires major investment in hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical recycling plants, coupled with new government mandates that favor recycled content. The 5,000-ton milestone would still be a small fraction of total annual demand but would signal commercial viability.