Recycling of rare earths from fluorescent lamps
- Author(s)
- Erika Faigen, Jessika Richter, Komal Habib, Paulina Klossek
- Abstract
Rare earth element (REE) recycling remains low at 1%, despite significant uncertainties related to future supply and demand and EU 2020 energy efficiency objectives. We use a global production network framework of REE flows from mine to REE phosphors in energy-efficient lamps to illustrate the potential of closed-loop recycling for secondary supply under different scenarios of primary supply and forecasted demand for LEDs, CFLs and LFLs. We find that different End-of-Life Recycling Rate scenarios for REE secondary supply range between meeting forecasted REE demand and filling primary supply gaps, and competing with primary supply. Our argument centres on diversifying REE sourcing with recycling and the choice between primary and secondary supply. We stress that secondary REE phosphor supply requires further policy support for lamp collection and a discussion of the value of REE phosphor recycling which underlies its economic feasibility.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Geography and Regional Research
- External organisation(s)
- Lund University, University of Waterloo (UW)
- Journal
- Resources, Conservation & Recycling
- Volume
- 104
- Pages
- 76-93
- No. of pages
- 18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.09.005
- Publication date
- 11-2015
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 507026 Economic geography
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Waste Management and Disposal, Economics and Econometrics
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/dea1c22a-3ebc-476a-bf59-7b816e083166