1. Can We Give Our Metals a Second Chance. A Third. A Fourth. Thomas E
Can We Give Our Metals a Second Chance? A Third? A Fourth? Thomas E. Graedel UNEP International Resource Panel

2. The metals challenge Metals are essential for economic development
Global demand for metals is increasing
Can our needs be satisfied by recycled metals?

3. China National Stadium (Bird’s Nest)
Floor area: 129.4×103 m2
Steel use: 41.8 Gg
335 kg/m2
© STAF Project, Yale University, 2006

4. In-Use Stocks Today (and Tomorrow?)
© STAF Project, Yale University, 2006

5. Can we recycle our way to sustainability?

6. Material Flows Used for Recycling Rate Calculations
End of Life Recycling Rate = e/a
Recycled Content = (j + e)/m

7. The End-of-Life Recycling Sequence
Collection
Separa-
tion
Sorting
Repro-
cessing
Discard
from use
To reuse

8. End-of-Life Recycling Rates

9. Recycled Content
Recycled content

10. A Speculative Illustration of End-of-Life Recycling Rate
Collection
Separa-
tion
Sorting
Repro-
cessing
Efficiencies: 50% % % % = %
Discard
from use
To reuse

11. Reports of the UNEP’s Global Metal Flows Working Group
Report 1: Metal Stocks in Society (published in 2010)
Report 2: Recycling Rates of Metals (published now)
Report 3: Environmental Impact of Metals
Report 4: Recycling: Its Opportunities, Limits, and Infrastructure
Report 5: Future Demand Scenarios for Metals
Report 6: Critical Metals and Metal Policy Options

12. Potential ways to boost recycling: Design for recycling at the start
Conclusions
Our above-ground mines are large, but little advantage is taken of them
Recycling rates are discouragingly low, especially for the specialty metals vital to modern technology
Potential ways to boost recycling:
Design for recycling at the start
Improve collection and processing technology
Clean out your closets and give your materials a second chance