US Advances Rare Earth Mining, Recycling Amid China Supply Risks

The United States faces significant dependency on China for rare earth elements (REEs), critical for technology and national security, as China controls the vast majority of refining capacity. U.S. lawmakers and officials, including Rep. Gary Palmer and EPA chief Lee Zeldin, emphasize the need to develop domestic mining, processing, and refining capabilities to secure supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign sources. Efforts to identify and recover critical minerals from unconventional sources such as mine waste and discarded electronics are underway, with the USGS funding state geological surveys to explore these opportunities. Recycling initiatives, like Western Digital's hard drive recycling program using environmentally friendly methods, aim to extract rare earth oxides and other valuable metals to promote a circular economy and reduce dependence on Chinese exports. Despite attempts to reshore production, the U.S. output remains far below China's dominance, making international collaboration essential. These combined strategies reflect a growing focus on economic security and sustainability in critical mineral supply chains.