Paper Title
Recycling and Environmental Sustainability: The Decreasing Element Problem with a Focus on Rare Earth Elements
Abstract
This paper elaborates on sustainable process and introduces Annual mean element locking (AMEL), a
mathematical quantity to calculate the un sustainability of a given Raw materials value chain. The decreasing element
problem is explained in view of the current glass recycling scenario. Biogeochemical cycles are elaborated and it is
explained why they represent ideal raw material value chains. The Rare earth elements are introduced and the balance
problem is explained. Various aspects of recycling of REE’s are explained and then barriers to circular economy are then
mentioned.
Keywords - Recycling, Sustainability, Rare Earth Element, Value Chain.