The extraction of critical minerals for clean energy technologies and electronic devices presents significant environmental challenges for our planet. For example, extracting a single ounce of gold can generate up to 20 tons of waste rock and tailings, often containing hazardous chemicals like cyanide and mercury used in processing. 

Similarly, platinum and palladium mining, essential for catalytic converters and electronics, also involves highly energy-intensive processes.

This blog post dives into the environmental costs of mining, sheds light on the different types of waste it generates, and highlights how recycling electronic waste or otherwise commonly known as e-waste, could significantly reduce our reliance on mining for new materials.

Environmental impact of critical mineral mining

Governments worldwide have identified critical materials essential for national security and economic stability, developing official lists of these materials to prioritise domestic production or sourcing through allied nations. These lists, such as the US Critical Minerals List (2022) and the UK Critical Minerals Strategy (2021), include key materials like lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, and copper. 

However, there are only two ways to source these critical materials: mining and recycling.

When it comes to mining, the environmental costs are both vast and varied, leaving an indelible mark on our planet and future generations. Extracting critical minerals essential for modern technologies requires moving mountains – literally. 

Now, to put this in perspective, producing just one kilogramme of gold—the amount needed to manufacture approximately 100,000 mobile phones—requires processing a staggering 3 million kilogrammes of mineral ore. That’s the equivalent of moving the weight of 750 fully loaded garbage trucks just to extract enough gold for a fraction of the devices we use daily

The impact begins with the land itself. Vast swathes of forests and ecosystems are cleared to make way for open-pit mines, resulting in habitat destruction and the fragmentation of wildlife corridors. In fact, studies show that 8% of invertebrate species are threatened by mining activities, as disrupted ecosystems ripple far beyond the immediate excavation sites.

Then there’s the water. Mining operations often pollute local waterways through acid mine drainage, a chemical reaction that occurs when exposed sulphide minerals produce sulphuric acid. This toxic runoff dissolves heavy metals, poisoning rivers and groundwater for decades, if not centuries, after the mines have shut down.

Air quality isn’t spared either. Dust from excavation and ore crushing fills the air, while smelting and refining processes release a cocktail of pollutants. For workers and nearby communities, this can mean increased risks of respiratory diseases and other health complications.

The role of e-waste recycling in reducing mining impact

This is where recycling comes in. 

Recycling, specifically e-waste recycling offers a promising pathway to reduce the environmental burden of critical mineral extraction. Through urban mining – the process of recovering valuable materials from discarded electronic devices – we can significantly decrease the need for primary mineral extraction and mitigate its devastating environmental impacts. What’s more, the intrinsic properties of recycled materials remain undiminished, providing our finite resources with an undeniable and sustainable second life.

According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, e-waste recycling has prevented the need to extract approximately 900 billion kilogrammes of ore through traditional mining methods. This reduction in mining activity equates to avoiding an estimated 52 billion kilogrammes of CO₂-equivalent emissions, a significant step toward addressing the environmental challenges of critical mineral sourcing. The majority of these savings stem from the recovery of copper (50%), followed by gold (20%) and iron (10%).

Moreover, e-waste recycling helps curtail the release of hazardous substances into the environment. Unmanaged e-waste currently emits 58 thousand kilogrammes of mercury and approximately 45 million kilogrammes of plastics containing brominated flame retardants annually. By implementing advanced recycling systems, these toxic materials can be safely captured and repurposed, preventing their harmful effects on ecosystems.

“The numbers speak volumes,” says Peter Lai, Founder and CEO of Majestic Corporation. “Every kilogramme of e-waste recycled is a step toward mitigating the environmental destruction caused by traditional mining. Recycling is not just about resource recovery – it’s about rewriting the rules for how we sustain our planet.”

The environmental damage wrought by critical mineral mining – deforestation, water pollution, and air quality degradation – demands urgent action. E-waste recycling by companies like Majestic Corporation (AQSE:MCJ) offers a tangible solution by reducing the demand for primary mineral extraction while simultaneously addressing the challenges posed by unmanaged e-waste.

Please view the article on Majestic Corporation’s website here.

Sources:

https://api.globalewaste.org/publications/file/297/Global-E-waste-Monitor-2024.pdf

https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/3af7fda6-8fd9-46b7-bede-395f7f8f9943/RecyclingofCriticalMinerals.pdf

https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/thousands-of-birds-and-fish-threatened-by-mining-for-clean-energy-transition#:~:text=New%20research%20has%20found%20that,drilling%20for%20oil%20and%20gas.

https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0960-9822%2824%2900895-9