Europe seeks strategic minerals in its own urban mine waste streams

Europe could meet more than half of its future demand for critical raw materials by recovering and recycling metals already embedded in discarded electronics, industrial waste, batteries and old vehicles, according to a major E.U.-backed research project that recasts waste as a strategic economic resource.

The findings in a report from Brussels on Wednesday come as European governments attempt to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers for materials essential to batteries, semiconductors, artificial intelligence infrastructure, renewable energy systems and defense technologies.

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