Urban mine: US e‑waste becomes stable source of critical minerals

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new supply-chain model aimed at transforming U.S. electronic waste (e-waste) into a profitable and stable domestic source of critical minerals such as gold, lithium, and cobalt. E-waste, which includes discarded phones, tablets, batteries, and circuit boards, is the fastest-growing solid waste stream globally and poses environmental hazards when improperly disposed of. Beyond environmental concerns, e-waste represents a significant loss of valuable materials that the U.S. currently imports, many of which are essential for electric vehicles, advanced electronics, military systems, and renewable energy technologies. Securing these materials domestically is a strategic priority amid rising global demand and geopolitical challenges. The key innovation from the University of Houston team is a collaborative cost-sharing framework that coordinates the fragmented e-waste recycling ecosystem, which includes manufacturers, collectors, processors, and recovery firms. This model shifts the system from competition to partnership, enabling more equitable profit sharing and making large-scale recycling financially sustainable. By