A green global economy will require much high recycling rates of specialty metals like lithium, neodymium and gallium, says a new United Nations report.
These metals, needed to make wind turbines, solar panels and hybrid car batteries, are scarce in nature and expensive yet only about 1% of them are recycled, according to preliminary findings by the U.N. Environment Program (UNEP). It will publish the final version later this year.
Unless recycling increases dramatically, the report warns that specialty and rare earth metals could become "essentially unavailable for use in modern technology."
To read the full, original article click on this link: U.N. says green economy depends on metal recycling - Green House - USATODAY.com
Author: Green House
