Archive · 26 Dec 2025
India-US Cooperation on Critical Mineral Recycling
India and the US are working together to recycle critical minerals from e-waste.
This is important because these minerals are needed for things like electric vehicles, defense technology, and data centers.
China controls a lot of these minerals, so this partnership helps reduce dependence on China.
India produces a lot of e-waste, and the US has advanced recycling technologies.
Together, they can create a more secure and sustainable supply chain.
The next steps include launching pilot projects, creating dedicated initiatives, and including more countries in future phases.
India and the US are collaborating on critical mineral recycling to reduce dependence on China.
Critical minerals are essential for industries like electric vehicles, defense, and data centers.
India generates 1.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste annually, with only 43% formally recycled.
The US has advanced recycling technologies that can recover over 95% of key minerals from e-waste.
Future initiatives include launching pilot projects, creating dedicated recycling initiatives, and expanding global partnerships.
- Who
- India and the US
- What
- Cooperation on critical mineral recycling
- When
- Ongoing since 2023, with future initiatives planned
- Where
- Primarily in India and the US, with potential global impact
- Why
- To reduce dependence on China, secure supply chains, and meet increasing demand for critical minerals
- India's e-waste generation
- 1.6 million metric tonnes annually
- Projected e-waste by 2030
- 9 million tonnes
- Formal recycling rate (2023-2024)
- 43%
- Informal sector e-waste handling
- 95%
- US recycling efficiency
- 95% recovery of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper
- MSP joining date
- June 2023
- Quad Critical Minerals Initiative launch
- 1 July 2025
- Pax Silica initiative launch
- 11 December 2025