In recent years, the global energy transition has accelerated demand for critical energy metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel—key materials for electric vehicle batteries, energy storage systems, and renewable energy infrastructure. This surge in demand has driven their prices upward. However, traditional mining faces challenges including resource depletion, environmental degradation, and geopolitical risks. Against this backdrop, the concept of the ‘urban mine’ is gaining increasing attention.An ‘urban mine’ refers to the recovery of valuable metals from urban solid waste streams, such as discarded electronics, end-of-life vehicles, and spent batteries. Compared to primary mining, urban mining offers significant advantages: resource circularity, lower carbon emissions, and more secure supply chains. For instance, cobalt and lithium recovered from used lithium-ion batteries are high-purity and highly reusable, substantially reducing reliance on imported raw materials.As energy metal prices rise, the economic value of urban mines becomes ever more apparent. International estimates suggest that the recoverable metals in global e-waste alone are worth tens of billions of dollars annually. Governments and corporations worldwide are investing heavily in advanced recycling technologies and integrated supply chains. Policies supporting closed-loop recycling systems have been introduced in China, the European Union, the United States, and elsewhere.Looking ahead, urban mining will not only serve as a crucial source for securing critical metal supplies but also contribute significantly to achieving carbon neutrality and advancing a high-quality circular green economy.
近年来，随着全球能源转型加速，锂、钴、镍等关键能源金属需求激增，价格持续上涨。这些金属是制造电动汽车电池、储能系统和可再生能源设备的核心原材料。然而，传统矿产开采面临资源枯竭、环境破坏和地缘政治风险等多重挑战。在此背景下，“城市矿山”概念日益受到关注。“城市矿山”指的是从废弃电子产品、报废汽车、废旧电池等城市固体废弃物中回收有价值的金属资源。相比原生矿开采，城市矿山具有资源循环利用、碳排放低、供应链更安全等优势。例如，从废旧锂电池中回收的钴和锂，其纯度高、再利用效率好，且能显著减少对进口矿产的依赖。随着能源金属价格攀升，城市矿山的经济价值愈发凸显。据国际机构测算，全球每年产生的电子废弃物中所含金属价值高达数百亿美元。各国政府和企业正加大投入，推动回收技术升级与产业链整合。中国、欧盟、美国等地已出台相关政策，鼓励建立闭环回收体系。未来，城市矿山不仅将成为保障关键金属供应的重要渠道，也将助力实现碳中和目标，推动绿色循环经济高质量发展。
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