Finding valuable rare earth metals hidden in what we throw away
The LIFE INSPIREE project aims to recover rare earth elements—critical for computers, batteries, and green technologies—from electronic waste across Europe. As Europe seeks to reduce reliance on imported materials under the Critical Raw Materials Act, LIFE INSPIREE is developing the first large-scale process to extract rare earth metals like neodymium, palladium, and dysprosium from discarded appliances and electronics. The project plans to recover up to 700 tonnes annually, helping meet the EU’s goal of sourcing 25% of these materials through recycling. Selected as a strategic project, LIFE INSPIREE will benefit from easier financing and permitting. Rare earth elements are vital for products like wind turbines, yet the EU currently imports around 12,900 tonnes annually, mostly from China and Russia, with less than 1% recycled. LIFE INSPIREE, partnering Italian waste firms and the University of L’Aquila, hopes to expand by 2040 to recycle over 20,000 tonnes of magnets each year. Learn more about this plan.
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