Globally, it was estimated that computers accounted for 33.8% of rare earth elements (REE) (neodymium magnets (NdFeB)) use in 2007, about 36 000 tonnes (t) in terms of mass.
By 2016, about 14 300 t of neodymium (Nd) were accumulated by the in-stock market in the EU, where hard disk drives (HDDs) represent more than 80% of secondary Nd reserves
By the late 2020s, end-of-life HDDs are expected to become the main secondary source for supplying Nd in a global scale.
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References
Xiaoyue Du, T, E, Graedel. 2011. Global Rare Earth In-Use Stocks in NdFeB Permanent Magnets. DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00362.x
Ciacci, L.; Vassura, I.; Cao, Z.; Liu, G.; Passarini, F. 2019. Recovering the “new twin”: Analysis of secondary neodymium sources and recycling potentials in Europe. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 142, 143 to 152. DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.11.024
] Rademaker, J.H.; Kleijn, R.; Yang, Y. 2013. Recycling as a Strategy against Rare Earth Element Criticality: A Systemic Evaluation of the Potential Yield of NdFeB Magnet Recycling. Environ. Sci. Technol 47, 18, 10129-10136. DOI: 10.1021/es305007w