Recital 51

(51) Most critical raw materials are metals, which can be in principle endlessly recycled, albeit sometimes subject to deteriorating quality. This offers the potential to move to a truly circular economy in the context of the green transition while increasing the availability of critical raw materials and thereby contributing to ensure security of supply. After an initial phase of rapid growth of demand for critical raw materials for new technologies, where primary extraction and processing will still constitute the predominant source, recycling should increasingly reduce the need for primary extraction and its associated impacts. This should be done while maintaining a high level of Union recycling capacity via a strong market for secondary critical raw materials. Today, however, recycling rates of most critical raw materials are low, with waste streams such as batteries, electrical and electronic equipment and vehicles being shipped to third countries for recycling. Recycling systems and technologies are often not adapted to the specificities of those raw materials. Innovation plays an important role in reducing the need for critical raw materials, reducing the risks of shortage of supply and for the development of recycling technologies to properly and safely extract critical raw materials from waste. Prompt action addressing the different factors holding back the circularity potential is thus required.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-10-13 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.