Urban Mining emphasizes the potential of cities, the human habitat and the built environment as a source of raw materials. While conventional mining secures raw materials by exploring for, extracting and refining natural resources, Urban Mining secures raw materials by exploring for, extracting and refining anthropogenic resources. Copper can be found in the urban mine, which is made up of items such as electronic goods, buildings, mine tailings and waste.

Urban Mining is an important element of the circular economy, as it returns the collection of discarded products and secondary raw materials to the market.
By treating waste as a resource, Urban Mining—along with conventional mining—will supply the developing world with raw materials.
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Aurubis Plans First Smelter for Multimetal Recycling in the U.S.
International Copper Association (ICA) member Aurubis is expanding its international operations and building a new…

Copper Recycling
The Importance of Recycling During the past decade, strong growth in emerging economies, coupled with…

The Future of Urban Mining

The Promise and Limits of Urban Mining – Fraunhofer ISI Report

The Promise and Limits of Urban Mining
Urban Mining is a concept that emphasizes the potential of cities, the human habitat and…

The Future of Urban Mining
Urban Mining is a concept that emphasizes the potential of cities, the human habitat and built environment as a source of raw...

Copper: Infinitely recyclable
Dr. Diran Apelian discusses copper's ability to be recycled over and over again....