JRC Science for Policy report - Recovery of critical and other raw materials from mining waste and landfills

This publication is a Science for Policy report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s science and knowledge service. It aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policymaking process. The scientific output expressed does not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that might be made of this publication.

The transition to a more circular economy is essential to develop a sustainable, low carbon, resource efficient, and competitive economy in the EU. In such a context, Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) are those with a particularly high importance to the EU economy and, at the same time, with a high risk of supply disruptions. First and foremost, improving the circular use of CRMs is a key strategy in improving the security of supply and not surprisingly is an objective of various policies. This report delivers on action #39 of the Circular Economy Action Plan: "Sharing of best practice for the recovery of critical raw materials from mining waste and landfills". It builds on discussions held during two 2018 workshops and gathers together six examples of existing practices for the recovery of critical, precious, and other materials from extractive waste and landfills, highlighting technological innovations and contributions to a more comprehensive knowledge-base on raw materials.
The report also provides various estimates of potential recovery of certain materials compared to their current demand. Lessons learnt from the practices include awareness that it is very unlikely that recovery processes can target one or just a few specific materials of great interest and disregard other elements or bulk matrixes. Especially in case of very low concentrations, most of the mineral resources and other bulk materials in which they are embedded must be valorised in order to increase economic viability and minimise waste disposal. As recovery processes can be very energy intensive, environmental and land use related aspects are also particularly relevant in that environmental gains may also occur and, moreover, land space can be liberated and reused for new purposes and services. Finally, availability of data and information on secondary materials as well as a harmonised legislative framework within the EU appear to be crucial for the large-scale deployment of recovery practices.

This report has been edited by Gian Andrea Blengini, Fabrice Mathieux, Lucia Mancini (JRC Ispra - Land Resources Unit), Maria Nyberg, and Helena Viegas (DG GROW Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials Unit).
The following authors have contributed to the preparation of this report:
 Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8: Gian Andrea Blengini, Fabrice Mathieux, Lucia Mancini (JRC Ispra - Land Resources Unit); Justin Salminen (Boliden); Ignacio Calleja (EIT Raw Materials)
 Chapter 2.2 and Chapter 3: Elena Garbarino, Glenn Orveillon, Hans Saveyn (JRC Seville - Circular Economy and Industrial Leadership unit)
 Chapter 7.1: Mateos Aquilino, V.; Llorens González, T; García Polonio, F., SMS, Strategic Minerals Spain, (Spain))
 Chapter 7.2: Liesbeth Horckmans, VITO (Belgium)
 Chapter 7.3: Patrick D'Hugues, Chris Bryan, Anne Gwenaelle Guezennec, and Dominique Morin, Waste and Raw Materials Unit BRGM, Bureau De Recherches Géologiques et Minières, (France)
 Chapter 7.4: Efthymios Balomenos, Mytilineos S.A., Metallurgy Business Sector/NTUA Laboratory of Metallurgy (Greece)
 Chapter 7.5: Giovanna Dino, Piergiorgio Rossetti, University of Turin (Italy); Marco de la Feld, ENCO Consulting (Italy)
 Chapter 7.6 Ferenc Mádai, János Földessy, Gábor Mucsi, Imre Gombkötő, University of Miskolc, Faculty of Earth Science and Engineering (Hungary)
The views expressed in these contributions are the authors’ own and do not necessary reflect the opinion of the editors and the position of the European Commission.