Rare earth recycling can bridge US supply gap as mines face long timelines, Paladin says
Paladin currently produces about 40 metric tonnes of recovered material annually and invested over $5 million to increase capacity to 150 tonnes per year.
Rare earth recycling could help address the US's supply gap as new mines take time to develop, according to Paladin EnviroTech. The electronics recycler is expanding its rare earth recovery operations, with a new facility expected to be operational by the third quarter of next year. Currently, Paladin produces about 40 metric tonnes of recovered material annually, and this capacity is set to increase to 150 tonnes per year on a three-shift basis.
The company operates six facilities in the US, two in Europe, and plans a South Korean operation. Paladin sees recycling as a way to supplement new mining projects, as developing mines can take significant time and investment. End-of-life equipment can be recovered more quickly and efficiently, with modular recycling facilities being deployed in existing industrial locations.
Paladin focuses on equipment containing permanent magnets, such as hard disk drives, wind turbines, and electric vehicle motors, which can provide access to heavy rare earth elements like dysprosium. The recycling process can recover up to 98% of the intrinsic value of rare earths, with Paladin producing a mixed rare earth oxide for supply to separation companies.
As the demand for clean energy transitions, digital infrastructure, and defense grows, recycling can play an increasingly important role in meeting this demand.
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