Recycling

WHAT WE DO

Our expertise in the recycling of copper and precious metals

Glencore is a major recycler of end-of-life electronics, lithium-ion batteries, and other critical metal-containing products. We are working towards closing the loop for critical metals like copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc and precious metals. We are committed to responsibly sourcing the commodities the world needs to advance everyday life. 

This includes: 

  • sourcing recyclable materials from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), other end-of-life sources and processors
  • sampling and value determination
  • processing and refining
  • marketing directly to our industrial customers

Our recycling facilities are located in North America, South America and Europe and are supported by Glencore’s global marketing network, with offices in more than 35 countries. Across our assets, we have more than 75 years’ experience in the recycling industry. 
 

Recycling towards a circular economy

Hear from our team how recycling critical metals is supporting the world in moving towards a circular economy.

We are committed to a circularity driven future. In electronics, we are a member of the Circular Electronics Partnership, which aims to drive system transformation towards the vision of a more circular electronics industry by 2030. In batteries, we are working with a range of key partners, all the way from battery manufacturers to OEMs to other recyclers to remanufacturing and repurposing players to help drive circularity globally.

By recycling metals, we contribute to the circular economy, diverting materials from landfill and helping to reduce environmental impacts.

Our approach

Our approach is underpinned by three core areas: leading technological expertise, a commitment to customer excellence and embedding sustainability across the business.

  • Our operations include extensive sampling and analytical capabilities through our reception and sampling plants as well as our onsite laboratories. Our technical capabilities are adaptable, making it possible to accurately sample and treat a wide range of complex materials. 

  • In line with Glencore’s values, we prioritise integrity and openness. We work closely and flexibly with customers to ensure prompt turnaround times and logistic solutions, helping them maximise their returns. We work to carefully understand the requirements of each customer – from finance and logistics to environment. 

  • Transforming recyclable material into refined metals for use in new products plays an important role preserving our environment for future generations. As a qualified downstream for R2- and e-Stewards-certified electronics processors, and undergoing periodic third party health, safety and environmental management assurance at all of our facilities (many with ISO certifications), we close the loop between processors, manufacturers and consumers by recycling electronics.

Our recycling operations

Accross our network of marketing offices, sampling facilities and metallurgical operations, we receive a wide range of materials from over 30 countries, serving a broad customer base.

  • Founded in 1927 and with a history of recycling dating back to the 1980s, the Horne smelter, located in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, is North America's largest processors of electronic scrap containing copper and precious metals. The smelter is a custom copper smelter which uses both copper concentrates and precious metal bearing recyclable materials as its feedstock to produce a 99.1% copper anode. The anode is shipped to the Canadian Copper Refinery (CCR) in Montreal to be converted into 99.99% copper cathodes which are sold on world markets. At CCR, gold and silver are refined into dore.

    The Horne smelter has the capacity to process 840,000 tonnes per annum of copper and precious metal bearing materials.

    One of the notable features of the Horne smelter is its ability to process a wide-range of feeds, including copper and precious metal bearing electronic materials.

    More information on: www.fonderiehorne.ca

Materials we recycle

We recycle a wide variety of complex end-of-life electronics, batteries, and other products and materials that contain metals in order to extract copper, nickel, cobalt, lead and precious metals, helping support a circular supply chain that gives a new life to products that might otherwise be sent to landfill. 

Electronics

We process a diverse range of end-of-life electronics, such as circuit boards, electronic components (e.g. connectors, pins, integrated circuits), as well as mobile phones, and insulated copper wire. 

Batteries

We process complex input materials such as lithium-ion batteries. Our goal is to support the circular economy – one in which recycled metals and minerals flow back into the battery supply chain.

Copper bearing materials

We recycle a wide range of copper bearing scrap, such as, high grade copper (#1 and #2 Cu), brass, turnings, and residues (dross, muds, hydroxide, dust and catalysts)

Other metal bearing material

We recycle a wide range of metal-containing scrap materials, including brass, turnings and residues such as dross, sludge, hydroxide, dust, incinerator slag, and various copper bearing materials from end-of-life processing of automobiles.