Neodymium is one of the most important materials behind modern technologies, from wind turbines and electric mobility to everyday electronics. Yet Europe still relies heavily on imports, with China supplying the majority of the world’s rare earth elements.
A recent article by science journalist Rebecca Pool explores how the EU-funded HARMONY project tackles one of the biggest challenges in this field: recovering neodymium from end-of-life products. Researchers and industry partners study how magnets can be removed from devices such as e-scooters. They also identify technical barriers that limit efficient recycling.
The work shows that recycling permanent magnets is far from straightforward. Manufacturers rarely design devices for disassembly. Magnets often sit deep inside components and manufacturers glue them firmly in place. Waste treatment facilities also lack tools to demagnetise and separate them safely.
Identifying which products contain neodymium magnets can also be difficult. Without better labelling and waste classification systems, treatment plants must spend time sorting devices manually.
Within HARMONY, researchers map these challenges and test new dismantling approaches. These methods could make magnet recovery more practical in the future. Their findings also highlight the need for better product design, improved waste sorting and supportive policy frameworks. Together, these steps could enable large-scale magnet recycling in Europe.
Read the full article to explore the challenges and opportunities for recovering one of Europe’s most strategic materials.
Engine disassembly
Photos Lorenzo Berzi – Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università degli Studi di Firenze