Editing Mining (section)

==Metal reserves and recycling==
[[File:NatCopper.jpg|thumb|right|Macro of [[native copper]] about {{frac|1|1|2}} inches (4 cm) in size]]
[[File:Pyhasalmi mine.jpg|thumb|The [[Pyhäsalmi Mine]], a metal mine in [[Pyhäjärvi]], Finland]]
{{main|Landfill mining|Recycling}}
{{see also|Conflict resource|List of critical mineral raw materials}}

During the 20th century, the variety of [[metals]] used in society increased. Today, the development of major nations such as China and India and technological advances fuel an ever-greater demand. The result is that metal mining activities are expanding, and more and more of the world's metal stocks are above ground in use rather than below ground as unused reserves. An example is the in-use stock of [[copper]]. Between 1932 and 1999, copper in use in the US rose from {{convert|73|kg|lb}} to {{convert|238|kg|lb}} per person.<ref name="unep">[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20111223004208/http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/Publications/MetalStocks/tabid/56054/Default.aspx ''The Recycling Rates of Metals: A Status Report''] 2010, [[International Resource Panel]], [[United Nations Environment Programme]]</ref>
[[File:Abandoned Metal Recycling Plant.png|thumb|left| A metal recycling plant in [[South Carolina]] that has been abandoned for years]]

95% of the energy used to make aluminium from [[bauxite]] ore is saved by using recycled material.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/feb/22/pledges.waste ''Tread lightly: Aluminium attack''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510190347/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/feb/22/pledges.waste |date=2017-05-10 }} Carolyn Fry, Guardian.co.uk, 22 February 2008.</ref> However, levels of metal recycling are generally low. In 2010, the [[International Resource Panel]], hosted by the [[United Nations Environment Programme]] (UNEP), published reports on metal stocks that exist within society<ref name="metal_stocks">[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20111223004208/http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/Publications/MetalStocks/tabid/56054/Default.aspx ''Metal Stocks in Society: Scientific Synthesis''] 2010, [[International Resource Panel]], [[United Nations Environment Programme]]</ref> and their recycling rates.<ref name="unep" />

The report's authors observed that the metal stocks in society can serve as substantial anthropogenic mines above ground.<ref name="metal_stocks" /> However, they warned that the recycling rates of some rare metals used in applications such as mobile phones, battery packs for hybrid cars, and fuel cells are so low that unless future end-of-life recycling rates are dramatically stepped up these critical metals will become unavailable for use in modern technology.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

As recycling rates are low and so much metal has already been extracted, some [[landfill]] now contain higher concentrations of metal than the mines themselves.<ref>{{cite web
 |title=Landfill mining: new opportunities ahead?
 |url=http://www.macfarlanes.com/media/1467/landfill-mining-new-opportunities-ahead.pdf
 |website=MacFarlanes
 |access-date=2015-06-11
 |archive-date=2015-06-13
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613034513/http://www.macfarlanes.com/media/1467/landfill-mining-new-opportunities-ahead.pdf
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref> This is especially true of [[Aluminium|aluminum]], used in cans, and [[precious metal]]s, found in discarded electronics.<ref>{{cite web|title = Landfill Mining|url = http://www.enviroalternatives.com/landfill.html|website = www.enviroalternatives.com|access-date = 2015-06-11|archive-date = 2017-05-23|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170523045629/http://www.enviroalternatives.com/landfill.html|url-status = live}}</ref> Furthermore, waste after 15 years has still not broken down, so less processing would be required when compared to mining ores. A study undertaken by [[Cranfield University]] has found £360&nbsp;million of metals could be mined from just four [[Landfill|landfill sites.]]<ref>{{cite web|title = Study shows around £360 million of metals could be mined from just four landfill sites|url = http://www.rebnews.com/news/resource_efficiency/study_shows_around_p360_million_metals_mined_just_four_landfill_sites.html|website = www.rebnews.com|access-date = 2015-06-11|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150612193519/http://www.rebnews.com/news/resource_efficiency/study_shows_around_p360_million_metals_mined_just_four_landfill_sites.html|archive-date = 2015-06-12|url-status=dead}}</ref> There is also up to 20&nbsp;MJ/kg of energy in waste, potentially making the re-extraction more profitable.<ref>{{cite web|title =Enhanced Landfill Mining: Material recovery, energy utilisation and economics in the EU (Directive) perspective |url=http://www.elfm.eu/Uploads/ELFM/FILE_79F81D49-34DC-4B5B-9BFC-5E5101CE7520.PDF |website=Enhanced Landfill Mining |access-date = 2015-06-11 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150612103124/http://www.elfm.eu/Uploads/ELFM/FILE_79F81D49-34DC-4B5B-9BFC-5E5101CE7520.PDF|archive-date = 2015-06-12}}</ref> However, although the first landfill mine opened in [[Tel Aviv]], Israel in 1953, little work has followed due to the abundance of accessible ores.<ref>{{cite web|title = Assessing the opportunities of landfill mining|publisher = Research database – University of Groningen|url = https://www.rug.nl/research/portal/publications/pub(e2682e00-9881-4bac-ad4e-a4deb0dd4f1e).html|website = www.rug.nl|access-date = 2015-06-11|archive-date = 2019-01-27|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190127094229/https://www.rug.nl/research/portal/publications/pub(e2682e00-9881-4bac-ad4e-a4deb0dd4f1e).html|url-status = live}}</ref>