Photo: steveallenuk
Urban mining, the process of extracting valuable materials from used electronics and buildings, is emerging as a major tool in Europe’s race toward resource independence and climate resilience. As the European Union reduces reliance on foreign imports, it’s turning to what’s already within its borders: old tech, broken appliances, demolished buildings, and a whole lot of untapped potential. Despite being one of the largest product markets on the planet, Europe lacks the raw materials that power green and digital technologies. Currently, about 90 percent of strategic elements, like those used in batteries, semiconductors, and wind turbines, are imported. That’s where urban mining comes in. Rather than relying on traditional “primary” mining that digs into the earth, urban mining pulls metals and minerals from discarded goods. A 2024 EU law, the Critical Raw Materials Act, aims to have 25 percent of these vital materials come from recycling by 2030—a big leap from the current 1 percent. EU member states are ramping up efforts to collect and process electronic waste. Across the continent, 2,700 facilities are working to recover precious metals from tossed-out tech, gradually replacing reliance on materials imported from Asia and elsewhere.
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