Phys.org reported that scientists at the Critical Materials Institute have invented a two-step recovery process to make the recycling of rare earths easier and more cost effective.

As quoted in the market news:

Rare-earth metals are valuable ingredients in a variety of modern technologies and are found in cell phones, hard disk drives in computers, and other consumer electronics, which are frequently discarded for newer and more up-to-date versions.

CMI scientist Ryan Ott stated:

Recycling rare-earth metals out of consumer waste is problematic, and there are multiple obstacles in the entire chain from manufacturing to collection infrastructure to sorting and processing. We’re looking at ways to make the processing part of that chain—removing the rare-earths from scrap magnet material—better.

Click here for the full Phys.org report