Yale University released a preliminary report over the weekend in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) that said industries will have to significantly impact recycling rates for enough rare metals to be recovered so that alternative energy technologies can move forward.
According to the report, dramatic boosts in recycling rates will be required to enable the supply of adequate amounts of raw materials for production of alternative energy equipment to move forward. Equipment such as solar cells, wind turbines, and other types of renewable energy items need raw materials for assembly.
The report forecasts that unless there is a jump in recycling rates of rare metals, there will not be enough to continue mass production of alternative energy technology. Currently, it is estimated that under one per cent of the globe’s indium, tellurium, neodymium, and other such uncommon metals are being recycled. The remainder ends up in waste heaps in landfills.
Thomas Graedel of Yale University, and the lead author on the report, said that the document was in no way trying to forecast that these rare metals would be exhausted, but rather that these materials will be in short supply in two or more decades if not recycled making it difficult to produce industry level equipment using them. He also urged countries committed to a greener economy to focus on increasing recycling rates.
The UNEP-Yale team plan to continue their research partnership by expanding on the report with supply details, industrial applications, and ways to recycle over 60 rare metals. According to the team, the secondary report should be published by October.
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