Taiwan to recycle rare earth elements from waste

台灣將從廢料中回收稀土元素

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Industrial Technology Research Institute said Taiwan should prioritize developing rare earth recycling technologies amid growing global concern over China’s export restrictions.

ITRI announced plans to transfer rare earth recycling technology to private enterprises in 2026, focusing on refining rare earth-containing waste into high-purity oxides, metals, and alloys, per CNA.

Tsao Shen (曹申), managing director of ITRI’s Materials and Chemicals Research Institute, said the transition to energy-efficient electric motors will require magnets made with neodymium. For applications involving high temperatures or heavy loads, dysprosium must be added, he said.

ITRI is currently developing extraction technologies for neodymium and dysprosium, the two rare earths most in demand. The goal is to increase domestic self-sufficiency, reduce import dependence, and strengthen Taiwan’s supply of magnetic materials.

By comparison, Tsao said the use of rare earths in the semiconductor sector is relatively limited, primarily for chemical-mechanical polishing, high-dielectric materials, and equipment components. The associated risks for Taiwan’s chip industry are therefore lower than for electric vehicles or other motor-related industries, he added.

Other products, such as lithium-ion batteries and even electric toothbrushes, contain varying amounts of rare earth elements. Tsao said ITRI has not yet conducted military-related research but noted that rare earths are critical to defense technologies, including wave absorption, stealth, night vision, and guidance systems.

Regarding self-sufficiency development, ITRI said the main challenge lies in balancing environmental protection, energy use, and cost. The team is applying waste reduction and wastewater recycling technologies from semiconductor and optoelectronic industries to rare earth refining, cutting waste by 50%, chemical use by more than 40%, and energy consumption by 20%.

The ongoing project, launched in 2023, established research facilities in its first year and began large-scale R&D in 2024. ITRI has successfully refined materials containing about 5% rare earth content to 99.9% purity and produced a neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) alloy. Collaboration with domestic manufacturers and academic institutions is underway, with technology transfer expected to begin in 2026.