In today’s generation of eco-friendliness, the world is trying to get rid of anything that will be harmful to the ozone layer or that will add up to global warming. Recycling and going green have become the popular battle cries for many environment advocates. But can recycling include specialty metals?
Specialty Metals
Specialty metals refer to metals and rare earth elements that are neither base metals such as copper, lead, zinc, nickel and iron which oxidize, corrode and tarnish, nor energy metals such as uranium or thorium. They include Tantalum, Niobium, Zirconium, Tungsten, Molybdenum, and Hafnium, required by Space, Nuclear and Petro-chemical markets. Other high-tech specialty metals such as gallium, neodymium, and lithium are used in applications such as solar panels, magnets to power hybrid vehicles and consumer electronics.Limited Supply
Specialty metals exist in nature in limited abundance or in discreet geographical locations. And these are non-renewable resources. Hence, when resources are exhausted, an imminent scarcity of supply may ensue.Recycling of Specialty Metals
Metals, including specialty metals are effectively recyclable, thus making them a truly sustainable resource. By recycling these crucial specialty metals and not discarding or throwing them away at the end of a product’s life, the increasingly depleting resources can be controlled.Benefits of Recycling
End-of-life recycling rates, even for computers, mobile phones and consumer electronics, which contain specialty metals, should be stepped up so that the rare earth elements do not become unavailable for use in modern technology and other industrial applications. Additional benefits also include:- More stable supply of specialty metals and not risking depleting original supply sources
- Material cost will go down as scarcity of supply will be addressed
- Billions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions will be saved because recycling metals is up to ten times more energy efficient than smelting the metals from virgin ores
- Generate significant number of green jobs
- Ensuring the longevity of stock and mines found in nature
Recycling Limitations
Undoubtedly, recycling of metals and special metals is crucial and important to sustain the needs of the industries that require the materials. Unfortunately, there are certain limitations that have to be dealt with first in order for this long-term solution to take off continuously.- Availability of recycling infrastructures and facilities especially in developing economies
- Improvement of collection of end-of-life products that contain the specialty metals
- Better recycling management with respect to finding a balance between the increasing demand for specialty metals and the short life cycles of electronic devices.
- Design considerations not only on manufacturing and product use but end-of-life disassembly to make reuse and recycling of materials easier.
