U.S. Pushes Domestic Recovery of Critical Minerals from E-Waste
Industry leaders and lawmakers are urging the United States to treat electronic waste as a source of strategic minerals, linking recycling to national security and economic competitiveness.
Electronic devices across the United States hold significant amounts of critical minerals essential for modern technology and defense. Recognizing this, both parties are framing domestic recycling as a security and economic priority, moving beyond traditional environmental arguments. Senator Mazie Hirono secured a defense-department public-private partnership to recycle strategic minerals, while Rep. Pete Stauber’s Critical Mineral Dominance Act aims to boost domestic processing and cut dependence on China.
President Donald Trump’s executive order further tightens export controls on recoverable waste like battery material and tungsten scrap. The author, John Shegerian, co-founder of ERI, notes that the firm operates eight facilities and processes more than one million pounds of electronics each day, illustrating the scale of “urban mining.” Government reports suggest battery recycling could lessen import reliance within two to three years, offering a rapid alternative to new mining projects.
