Zurich Scientists Crack Rare Earth Recycling

In a breakthrough that could reshape the global supply chain for clean energy technologies, researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an innovative way to extract rare earth elements from electronic waste.

The team discovered a chemical process that separates these valuable metals, used in wind turbines, electric cars, smartphones, and more, from old fluorescent lightbulbs and other discarded electronics. Rare earths are notoriously difficult to recycle due to their near-identical properties, and global recycling rates remain below 1%. With China dominating both mining and refining, Europe’s heavy dependence on imports poses environmental and geopolitical risks.

The team’s work aligns with the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act, which targets recycling 25% of essential materials by 2030. After years of manually smashing lightbulbs in the lab, the researchers now work with industrial recyclers to scale the process.

The vision? Portable recycling units that manufacturers can use on-site to recover these elements locally.