Unlocking America’s Rare Earth Future Through Recycling
In the face of a growing demand for rare earth elements crucial for technology and energy, “60 Minutes” highlights an innovative solution: recycling. The latest segment explores how repurposing materials already in circulation could play a pivotal role in securing the United States’ rare earth supply. As traditional mining faces environmental and geopolitical challenges, tapping into the vast reserves of discarded electronics and other goods presents a sustainable and effective approach.
Join the discussion as “60 Minutes” delves into the potential of recycling in meeting the increasing needs of industries reliant on rare earth elements. This insightful investigation sheds light on the untapped resource within our own waste, emphasizing that the key to a more secure and eco-friendly future may lie in what we’ve already used.
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Watch the full episode linked above and be part of the conversation about America’s path toward a greener future through recycling.
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Video “How recycling could help power America's rare earth future” was uploaded on 03/23/2026 to Youtube Channel 60 Minutes

































During WWII there was a nationwide call to save materials like, fabrics, pig fatgreaseoil, metals like tin, aluminum, copper….there should be a similar call to do the same with everything recyclabe today. Dont throw away your oldbroken electronics,, charging cables, extension cords, copperaluminum scraps, bring them to facilities that recycle.
Wow what a novel idea lmao who knew you could just recycle… America is so smart
We don't do it because there's mercury all over landfills and dumps and electronic wastes. Americans sent dirty industry to China in the 90s and 00s during WTO, we need to make better agreements not enemies.
Should have started a century ago
Improving and investing in recycling facilities would help.
Gee, imagine that, recycling is a good thing? WHO COULD HAVE PREDICTED THAT!?!?
If the tech industry wants back their things they can give me an offer.
Metallium is at the forefront on recycling electronics with their flash joule heating. 60 minutes really needs to do a piece on them.
A lot of rare earth recycling would be much more possible and profitable if manufacturers made their electronics products serviceable (i.e. right to repair). And Apple is one of the worst offenders.
Why isn’t the host wearing a tie. Looks completely unprepared for this interview! Wear a tie!
It’s great to implement recycling but it’s extremely important to claim all the natural sources of rare earths as possible to thwart enemies of the West and their dominance in this field
There is no place to take old electronics or batteries. Some big box stores used too but they all quit doing it. County government makes it difficult and inconvenient by operating only during the work day.
Metallium
Yeah, when I had my store, google flagged "computer repair" as offensive. I was in the process of designing and saving a budget for my small bussiness to start recycling batteries. I was deleted. Had to shut down my store, after 4 years. Google can SMOOCH MY ARSE. It would have helped with alot of local needs.
somewhere China is laughing. recycling is of course useful. but this is beyond sad.
Would have been a good thing had this been included in the broadcast. But I guess including that in the broadcast would not have had the message Bari Weiss wanted.
I recycle cans and bottles because it's easy to take in to a place that pays decent. I'll also collect cans and bottles outside of what I consume because so many people discard cans and bottles. It's not like a 2nd job, but when I get roughly 6 large trash bags full to take in, it's a nice $40+ dollars. Sometimes I can get over $60. So maybe it's time to get more "aggressive" with paying for recycled rare earth metal.
Why can't we do both?
The US government is backing the recycling project!? That sounds like what the PRC would do. They're communism! What? Oh I see it's OK if we do it, but when China does it then it's wrong. Got it.
Yeah, magnets!!!
Imagine if we recycle materials we get from around the world how many American jobs we could have.
All materials of computers and cell phones are recyclable…
Dumps are filled with rare earth elements…all waste materials must be recycled…waste and trash facilities should burn unvaluable trash to create electricity…State of the art recycle energy power plants must be a number one practice of all nations…Nature does not waste anything nature does not pollute earth with garbage dumps….Jerusalem burned all its trash….
China is using US patented copyright mining technology mining in America…China does not need to practice extreme greed….
They can start by mining all the landfills where they sent the past 30 years of recycling.
Tesla Co Founder, JB, started Redwood Materials to recycle batteries at massive scale. They have 2 giga factories in the US so far.
Recycling EVERYTHING will greatly help America!