ReMA Highlights Recycling’s Role in Strengthening Domestic Critical Mineral Supply Chains

ReMA submitted a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Environment Subcommittee last week in response to a hearing examining legislationopens in a new tab that would support domestic critical mineral recovery and recycling.

In its letter, ReMA emphasized that the recycled materials industry is already a proven domestic source of critical minerals: "Recycled materials…are already embedded in American manufacturing and represent a ready-made solution to supply chain vulnerabilities."

ReMA noted that understanding how recycled materials are generated, processed, and marketed is essential to developing effective policies for critical mineral supply chains.

"Recyclers collect, sort, and process complex, end-of-life products - including vehicles, appliances, and other durable goods - that yield multiple recycled material streams. Those streams may include critical minerals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, and rare earth elements, as well as other essential but non-critical materials, such as steel and plastics."

Because critical minerals are often recovered alongside other recycled materials, ReMA urged lawmakers to consider the broader recycling ecosystem when developing policies to strengthen critical mineral supply chains.

U.S. recyclers have become increasingly sophisticated at dismantling complex products, safely removing batteries, processing electronics and recovering valuable materials - including precious metals and rare earth elements.

As demand for critical minerals grows, recycling companies should be recognized as strategic partners supporting manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign sources of critical feedstock.

"We urged Congress to focus federal policy on removing barriers to recycling and expanding domestic collection, processing, and consumption capacity," said Kristen Hildreth, ReMA's Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy.