From Waste to Power: Unlocking the Potential of Copper Recycling in the U.S. & Europe

Copper is one of the most critical minerals driving the clean energy transition, especially for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and supporting infrastructure.  With global demand projected to grow by at least 50% by 2050 under the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero by 2050 Scenario, finding sustainable and efficient sourcing of copper is essential for the energy transition and circular economies.

Research has pointed out that recycling copper from end-of-life (EOL) products plays an increasingly important role in complementing primary sources to meet growing copper demand.  Recycled copper currently accounts for about one-third of the global copper supply today and has the potential to significantly reduce energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and market pressures.

WRI’s previous research highlights that building healthy and robust circular economies for copper requires three key components: a reliable and steady feedstock of copper scraps, high-standard recycling capacity, and strong market demand for recycled copper. However, key regions to improve the global EoOL copper recycling rates face unique challenges, with the U.S. and EU particularly constrained by limited copper processing capacities.

This webinar marks the launch of WRI’s continuous efforts in 2025 to advance EOL copper recycling in key regions, focusing on expanding EOL copper processing capacities, especially for low-grade copper, in the U.S. and EU. This webinar will bring together diverse experts including leading industrial players, copper industrial associations, research organizations and policymakers. The discussion will focus on specific challenges, opportunities and strategies to mobilize investment and develop additional copper processing facilities across the U.S. and EU. By showcasing industry-specific similarities and differences, the event aims to drive momentum for advancing copper recycling efforts and foster collaboration among key stakeholders.

Speakers:

• Xixi Chen, Senior Research Manager, WRI
• Shobhan Dhir, Critical Minerals Analyst, International Energy Agency (IEA)  
• Anna-Maria Karjalainen, Director, Climate and Sustainability, Clean Energy Transition, International Copper Association (ICA)
• Jennifer Layke, Global Director, Energy, WRI
• Erin Smith, Deputy Director, EHS & Recycling, Copper Development Association (CDA)
• Thierry Van Kerckhoven, Head of Supply for Recyclables, Umicore Precious Metals Refining
• Ke Wang, Global Lead, Energy Minerals and Circularity, WRI

Key takeaways:

• Currently announced copper projects are projected to meet only 70% of total demand by 2035, due to declining ore quality and slow new mine discoveries, with the supply gap potentially emerging as early as the late 2020s.
• Quick and all-in actions are needed to address this gap, and copper recycling plays a crucial role, with up to 70% of copper demand being met through recycling if existing scrap materials are efficiently collected and processed.
• In the U.S., ongoing legislation, such as the Critical Mineral Consistency Act, as a key opportunity for the copper industry to secure government incentives, tax credits, and streamlined regulations that could bolster recycling and secondary smelting.
• The EU is actively promoting circularity and recycling, with initiatives like the Critical Raw Materials Act and the upcoming Circular Economy Act aiming to increase copper recycling and secure critical raw materials to support energy and digital transitions, positioning the EU as a global leader in circularity by 2030.
• The largest challenge in increasing copper recycling in both the U.S. and EU is the limited availability of secondary scrap, driven by low collection rates, product designs that complicate extraction, and losses during waste treatment processes – To address this challenge, companies must adopt flexible sourcing strategies that go beyond e-waste scrap, enabling them to adjust to fluctuations in material availability and potential disruptions.
• To improve recycling practices, the U.S. must focus on enhancing scrap collection and retaining more copper for domestic processing to build a secure and self-sufficient supply chain. The EU, as a frontrunner in smelting and recycling technologies, needs to ensure access to affordable, low-carbon electricity while avoiding policies that disincentivize the recycling of complex waste.
• Other Key solutions to boost copper recycling include increasing collection rates by accessing unused copper in old buildings, cabling, and other sources, investing in new technologies to process low-grade and complex scrap, supporting copper recycling projects to increase smelting and processing capacities, and investing in R&D innovation to improve sorting and processing technologies for challenging scrap types.
• Moving forward, we also need global cooperation in processing capacity, strategic partnerships in the copper recycling supply chain, and coordinated policy measures, such as banning landfilling, mandating producer collection and recycling, and incentivizing consumer returns.

Cover photo: From WRI