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TemaNord 2025:505
Evaluation of potential measures to reach the recycling benchmarks of the Critical Raw Materials Act
Better recycling of critical raw materials in the Nordics – Second report
Evaluation of potential measures to reach the recycling benchmarks of the Critical Raw Materials Act
About this publication
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Summary
Sammendrag (norsk)
1. Introduction
1.1 Scope of work
1.1.1 Methodology
1.2 Recycling of critical raw materials (CRM)
1.2.1 CRM-recycling benchmarks set by the EUs critical raw materials act
1.2.2 Other EU-legislation with impact on CRM-recycling
1.3 Socio-economic consequences of CRM-recycling
1.4 Environmental consequences of CRM-recycling
2. Waste streams with CRM-recycling potential
2.1 Mineral waste streams
2.2 Waste from processing raw materials
2.3 Waste from discarded components, assembled products and decommissioned infrastructure and waste treatment
3. Nordic companies and industrial projects that may lead or take part in new or better CRM-recycling operations
3.1 The Nordic aluminium industry
3.2 The Nordic zinc, copper and nickel industry
3.3 Steel industry
3.4 Silicon industry
3.5 Graphite production
3.6 Manganese industry
3.7 The phosphate industry
3.8 Rare earth element production
3.9 Titanium production
3.10 Platina Group Metal Production
4. Instruments and measures for better CRM-recycling in the Nordics
4.1 Mapping CRM-waste streams
4.1.1 National program for mapping CRM-levels in relevant waste streams.
4.2 Collection and pre-processing
4.2.1 R&D program for the development of better sorting technology.
4.2.2 Picking and sorting of components from printed circuit boards before recycling
4.2.3 More manual dismantling and cutting up of scrap metal and discarded vehicles before shredding
4.2.4 Disassembly of EEE components in discarded vehicles before shredding
4.2.5 Organised emptying and dismantling of hand-held fire extinguishers
4.2.6 Assess the possibility of incineration of selected waste streams in dedicated waste incineration plants to increase the CRM-concentrations in the ash residues.
4.2.7 Analyse wastewater from geothermal power stations for anhydrous CRMs
4.3 Better recycling solutions
4.3.1 R&D program for the development of new or more efficient CRM-recycling processes.
4.3.2 Develop business models that allows the establishment of networks of Nordic steelworks that more clearly specialise in the recycling of specific alloy qualities
4.3.3 Develop business models that allow the establishment of networks of Nordic secondary aluminium works specialising in the recycling of specific alloy grades
4.3.4 Establishment of a Nordic recycling plant for gallium from industrial wastes from zinc and aluminium
4.3.5 Development of recycling process for circuit boards and other EEE waste that recovers more CRMs
4.3.6 Develop business models that enable the restart of closed CRM-recycling facilities
4.3.7 Development of technology for the extraction of CRMs from ash
4.3.8 Rationalise the use of metal alloys that facilitate CRM-recycling
5. Discussion and conclusion
Appendixes
Appendix 1 Table: Companies and projects that may lead or take part in new or better CRM-recycling operations
Appendix 2 Table: Extended list over possible measures and instruments
Abbreviations