Comments on: To Stockpile or Not to Stockpile that is the Rare Earth Question http://agmetalminer.com/2009/10/21/to-stockpile-or-not-to-stockpile-that-is-the-rare-earth-question/ Sourcing & Trading Intelligence for Global Metals Markets Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:32:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Critical & Strategic Metals Shindig | Terra Magnetica http://agmetalminer.com/2009/10/21/to-stockpile-or-not-to-stockpile-that-is-the-rare-earth-question/comment-page-1/#comment-18884 The Critical & Strategic Metals Shindig | Terra Magnetica Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:33:56 +0000 http://agmetalminer.com/?p=1699#comment-18884 [...] To Stockpile or Not to Stockpile that is the Rare Earth Question [...] [...] To Stockpile or Not to Stockpile that is the Rare Earth Question [...]

]]> By: Ian Falconer http://agmetalminer.com/2009/10/21/to-stockpile-or-not-to-stockpile-that-is-the-rare-earth-question/comment-page-1/#comment-18785 Ian Falconer Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:32:37 +0000 http://agmetalminer.com/?p=1699#comment-18785 There is an alternative to stockpiling in material flow analysis and recycling. Know where the metal is through its life cycle and you can incentivise its return to a recycling pool with targeted actions. For example if you are in the tantalum supply chain sponsor a mobile phone handset return drive and pay everyone $5 for the handset that they have had in their draw for the last year, but never used. The metal is then still economically active and not as subject to degradation as it may be in a refined form. Of course this assumes that the metal you need is has an efficient recycling technology available. Some currently don't. There is an alternative to stockpiling in material flow analysis and recycling. Know where the metal is through its life cycle and you can incentivise its return to a recycling pool with targeted actions.
For example if you are in the tantalum supply chain sponsor a mobile phone handset return drive and pay everyone $5 for the handset that they have had in their draw for the last year, but never used.

The metal is then still economically active and not as subject to degradation as it may be in a refined form.

Of course this assumes that the metal you need is has an efficient recycling technology available. Some currently don’t.

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