According to the Critical Raw Materials Act, by 2030 the EU must source 25% of its annual CRM (Critical Raw Materials) demand from recycling to reduce dependence on imports. INSPIREE will tackle this challenge by creating an industrial-scale plant for the recovery of Rare Earths (REE) from permanent magnets (PM) extracted from end-of-life hard drives and electric motors.

The industrial scale-up of the end-of-life PM value chain will be carried out through a two-level process: Level I involves the disassembly of magnets at Glob Eco’s facility, while Level II consists of recovering REE oxalates via hydrometallurgy at Itelyum’s plant. Level I will handle 1,000 t/year of electric rotors, and Level II will treat 2,000 t/year of PM, resulting in approximately 700 t/year of REE oxalates recovered.

INSPIREE builds on extensive knowledge of the value chain and processes, developed during the pilot plant of the New-RE project. Knowledge and technology transfer from one project to the other will be managed through a dedicated Work Package, feeding into three technical WPs aimed at the industrial plant startup and oxide production. Social and environmental impacts of the proposed process will be calculated, and LIFE program KPIs will be defined for monitoring during the project. The output materials—REE oxides and carbonates—could be commercialized even before project completion, given interest from key value chain stakeholders.

The ultimate goal of INSPIREE is to consolidate the REE-PM recycling value chain and promote the circularity of Rare Earths in Europe, validating insights from New-RE and disseminating project results.

EIT RawMaterials
Founded in 2015, EIT RawMaterials is a key European player promoting Europe’s transition to a sustainable economy. Its mandate is to secure the supply of Critical Raw Materials for European industry while fostering innovation along the raw materials value chain. With the world’s largest network of partners in raw materials and advanced materials, EIT RawMaterials offers a collaborative environment for disruptive innovation, connecting over 300 partners from industry, academia, research, and investment. It also invests in the next generation of raw materials innovators through educational initiatives and professional development programs.

Role in the project:
EIT RawMaterials will contribute to valorisation, replication, and knowledge transfer by leveraging its network, relationships, and communication channels. It will disseminate project results across its research and industrial community, building synergies with public and private stakeholders and attracting potential investors.

Erion
Erion is Italy’s leading Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for the management of various waste streams and the valorisation of secondary raw materials. It is a non-profit organization established by producers to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, maintain dialogue with stakeholders, implement eco-innovative services, manage safe collection, transport, and treatment of WEEE (domestic and professional), battery waste, packaging waste, and textile product waste, and combat littering of tobacco product waste.

Role in the project:
Erion leads communication and dissemination activities and the WP related to technology and knowledge transfer from New-RE to INSPIREE. It also develops strategies to improve correct collection of PM, leveraging its unique expertise in the European WEEE value chain.

Glob Eco
Glob Eco has extensive experience in collecting and treating WEEE, end-of-life vehicles, and special waste. The company recovers and reuses over 90% of collected materials, contributing significantly to environmental protection. Glob Eco has also been accredited by WWF for its collection and treatment processes.

Role in the project:
Glob Eco will implement the Level I plant for PM pre-treatment and supply to Itelyum. It will also contribute to valorization activities and actively participate in communication and dissemination to promote INSPIREE’s goals and results.

Itelyum
Itelyum specializes in regenerating used oils

purifying chemical and petroleum streams, and responsibly managing a wide range of industrial waste. Through advanced technologies and continuous investment, Itelyum contributes to natural resource conservation and improved quality of life, providing sustainable processes, products, and solutions for waste management and market optimization. With over 60 years of industrial history founded on circular economy principles, Itelyum engages clients, suppliers, institutions, and communities in creating economic, environmental, and social value.

Role in the project:
Itelyum is the coordinator of LIFE INSPIREE, overseeing all stages leading to the construction, operation, and optimization of the process plant for recovering REE oxides and oxalates from electrical and electronic waste (WEEE, electric motors, etc.). It verifies design assumptions using real plant data and demonstrates industrial scalability through an updated business plan, adaptable to any production capacity, proving that this innovative plant is a winning method for generating value from waste.

UNIVAQ – University of L’Aquila
UNIVAQ is a public teaching and research institution offering programs in biotechnology, science, economics, engineering, humanities, medicine, psychology, and sports science. With seven departments, over 18,000 students, 66 degree courses, eight PhD programs, specialization schools, master programs, and professional courses, many faculty members have received international recognition.

The RIF-IND Laboratory (Integrated Treatment of Industrial Waste and Effluents) within the Department of Industrial, Information, and Economic Engineering, coordinated by Prof. Francesco Vegliò, is fully equipped to develop and manage hydrometallurgical processes for recovering raw materials from various waste streams.

Role in the project:
UNIVAQ leads WP1 – Process Analysis and Basic Design Engineering (BDE) for developing, engineering, and scaling the industrial process based on New-RE results. It also leads WP5 – Impact Monitoring and Assessment to evaluate the project’s direct and indirect environmental and socio-economic impacts.

P.N. 101113882 – LIFE22-ENV-IT-INSPIREE
Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.