Experts gather to discuss critical minerals recycling
A conference in Atlanta, USA, scheduled for 28–29 October 2026, will bring together over 60 experts to address challenges in critical minerals, battery recycling, and electronic waste. Held at the Cobb Convention Center, the two-day event will offer three concurrent sessions focusing on supply chain resilience, economic and regulatory aspects of battery recycling, and the escalating e-waste crisis tied to AI development.
One track will focus on critical minerals, including rare earths, base metals, investment, and domestic processing. Sessions will examine North American supply chains and opportunities for international partnerships, including a panel on building closed-loop solutions for critical materials.
KaLeigh Long, founder and CEO of Westwin Elements, will discuss the importance of domestic nickel refining, which supports defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and national security. Another track will examine the economics and regulation of battery recycling in North America, covering topics such as domestic supply chains, refining projects, and end-of-life battery rules.
The electronic scrap track will explore critical materials recovery, recycling economics, and the impact of expanding AI infrastructure. A highlight of this track is a talk by Jim Puckett, founder of Basel Action Network, titled ‘The AI e-waste wave: What is coming and can we sustainably handle it?’
The programme features representatives from technology companies, regulators, recyclers, and industry organisations, including Microsoft, Western Digital, Google Cloud, and the US EPA. The event will conclude with a session on ‘Rethinking e-waste and critical materials’, led by Corey Dehmey, CEO of SERI, which will bring together the overlapping themes of recycling, resource security, and materials recovery.
Industry professionals can attend the event for free, with the option to move between sessions according to their interests. The event provides a platform for discussion and knowledge-sharing on critical minerals, battery recycling, and electronic scrap, allowing attendees to engage with experts and learn about the latest developments in these fields.
The organizers have designed the event to facilitate networking and information exchange among attendees. By attending the event, industry professionals can gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities in critical minerals, battery recycling, and electronic scrap, and learn from the experiences of others in the field.
