America's untapped rare earth source: its trash
One untapped resource to meet the rising need for rare earth elements: recycling what's already been used.
In the race to secure the critical mineral supply chain , the U.S. government has sought to ramp up production of rare earths and rare earth magnets. Now, experts say the key to securing these supplies may not lie simply in opening new mines, but also in reusing what has already been extracted.
Rare earths, a group of 17 metallic elements on the periodic table, are essential for many modern technologies, from smart phones and laptops to wind turbines. Their unique properties enable super-strong magnets, amplify fiberoptics and lasers, and help speed up chemical reactions. According to the military, one F-35 fighter jet contains about a hundred pounds of rare earths, incorporated into its various parts.
In recent decades, China has built up its rare earths industry and cornered the market on these materials critical not only to American manufacturing, but also to the defense industry.
Contrary to what their name suggests, rare earths are not actually scarce in nature. What makes them rare is finding deposits concentrated enough to make mining and processing worthwhile.
But according to Julie Klinger, a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, there may be another way.
"Less than 1% of the rare earths that we consume are recycled," Klinger said. "That means we've been accumulating rare earths in our waste for decades."