The U.S. expanded export restrictions to China of chip-making equipment and sanctioned 140 companies, the latest moves in a back-and-forth series of export restrictions. | MOLPIX/Shutterstock
As technology trade tensions between China and the U.S. escalate, bans on trading minerals used in producing LED screens, semiconductors, chips and batteries are again putting the recycling sector in the spotlight. Continue Reading
Korea Zinc shareholder Young Poong and private equity firm MBK Partners submitted an unexpected and “uninvited” bid to purchase a majority stake in Korea Zinc in September, which management has been fighting. | Pavel Kapysh/Shutterstock
The power struggle between South Korean smelting company Korea Zinc and a private equity firm that wants to seize control of the company is continuing, with both using press conferences and statements to publicly attack the other’s business decisions. Continue Reading
Glencore will refine the recovered copper at its Horne smelter in Quebec and its Canadian refinery. | PitukTV/Shutterstock
Metals and rare earth processor Cyclic Materials will send copper from e-scrap, batteries and electric motors to Canada’s Glencore for refining. Continue Reading
The Texas facility will use solvents to recover copper, gold and more from dissolved circuit boards, providing an alternative to traditional smelting. | Photo courtesy Mint Innovation
Mint Innovation, an Australian company that is scaling up a hydrometallurgical technology to recover precious metals from e-scrap, this week began construction on a $20 million refinery in Texas capable of processing nearly 9 million pounds per year of printed circuit boards. Continue Reading
A new report from the International Energy Agency found that recycling could lower the need for new mining activity by 25% to 40% by 2050, if scaled up properly. | GS Photography/Shutterstock
A report from the International Energy Agency emphasized the “importance of unlocking the potential of recycling” and laid out policy recommendations for scaling up the industry globally. Continue Reading
Texas-headquartered Envela is the parent company of ITAD companies Echo Environmental, ITAD USA, Teladvance, CEX and Avail. | Amy VonDe/Shutterstock
Envela, the parent company of ITAD company Echo and others, reported higher revenue and operating costs in the third quarter of the year, thanks to a new client. Continue Reading
Mint’s Australian processing plant is the company’s first commercial-scale operation, and it’s now bringing that hydrometallurgical processing technology to North America. | Courtesy of Mint Innovation
After several years commercializing its technology, Australia-based hydrometallurgical processing company Mint Innovation is getting ready to build its first U.S. facility, which will provide an outlet for various grades of circuit boards. Continue Reading
Aurubis’ latest facility has the capacity to process over 180,000 tons of complex recycling materials annually, including circuit boards and copper cables. | Courtesy of Arubis
German company Aurubis has brought its multi-metal recycling facility in Georgia online after two years of work. Continue Reading
A private equity firm, MBK Partners, and shareholder Young Poong submitted a bid to purchase a majority stake in Korea Zinc, a move the smelting company called a “hostile takeover.” | Pavel Kapysh/Shutterstock
Top executives at South Korean smelting giant Korea Zinc are locked in a battle with a private equity firm that wants to seize control of the company. As the fight has spilled into the public arena, the equity firm has attacked the company’s recent business decisions, including its purchase of U.S.-based processor Igneo Holdings. Continue Reading
Changes in pricing for various metals largely balanced each other out this year, e-scrap industry experts noted. | Iryna-Imago/Shutterstock
Prices for key e-scrap metals have experienced a wild ride this year, and the shifts in value have piled onto global trade regulations and ongoing dematerialization to create a challenging economic picture for the industry. Continue Reading