Challenges and Opportunities for the Recovery of Critical Raw Materials from Electronic Waste: The Spanish Perspective

Jorge Torrubia (), Alicia Valero (), Antonio Valero and Anthony Lejuez
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Jorge Torrubia: Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption, CIRCE Institute, Campues Río Ebro, University of Zaragoza, CIRCE Building, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 15, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Alicia Valero: Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption, CIRCE Institute, Campues Río Ebro, University of Zaragoza, CIRCE Building, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 15, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Antonio Valero: Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption, CIRCE Institute, Campues Río Ebro, University of Zaragoza, CIRCE Building, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 15, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Anthony Lejuez: Pulsyn, 24 Rue de Clichy, 75009 Paris, France

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: The path toward energy transition requires many metals, some of which are scarce in nature or their supply is controlled by a few countries. The European and Spanish situations are particularly vulnerable because of the scarcity of crucial geological mineral resources, especially those known as critical. In this context, the recovery of metals from waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) presents an important opportunity to partly alleviate this situation because this region produces most of the WEEE per capita. In this study, 43 different categories of EEE placed in the Spanish market between 2016 and 2021 were assessed, considering the composition of up to 57 elements, with 34 being critical. The results show the great opportunities for urban mining: 1.4 million tons of metals valued at USD 2.43 billion, representing 80% of the mass and 25% of the price of the primary extraction in Spain during that period. In addition, 20,000 tons corresponded to critical metals. However, the short life of EEE and the low traceability and low recovery of metals, especially critical and precious (94% and 87% of their values are lost, respectively), make it necessary to overcome major challenges to develop a new industry capable of moving toward a deeper circular economy.

Keywords: critical raw materials; urban mining; circular economy; recycling; waste electric and electronic equipment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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