Korea Zinc Negotiates with US Companies for Rare Metal Recycling from IT Equipment
Korea Zinc is in talks with US IT companies to extract rare metals from decommissioned IT equipment, signaling a shift in the recycling landscape. Western Digital and Microsoft plan methods to recover precious metals from obsolete servers by 2025. The initiative reflects a structural change in IT infrastructure economics, as electronic waste volumes are projected to exceed 80 million tons by 2030, emphasizing the need for specialized recycling processes.

Korea Zinc has begun negotiations with US companies to recycle waste from data centers and extract rare earth elements. This initiative follows China's tightened export controls on several rare earth materials.
In 2025, Western Digital and Microsoft will test methods for recovering precious metals from outdated servers. The global electronic waste volume is currently over 60 million tons annually, expected to reach 80 million tons by the decade's end. This trend highlights the potential for a circular supply chain in electronic recycling, focusing on valuable components and materials.




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