Graphic Processing Units and Servers Only Last for a Few Years: U.S. Legislators Embrace Technology Recycling

“The digital detritus of discarded laptops, phones and other electronics contains much-sought-after resources hidden in plain sight.

 

Lawmakers at a congressional hearing last week pushed for improved recycling infrastructure to secure critical minerals, such as lithium, that power electric vehicles and smartphones. The race is on to secure critical minerals in the U.S., in part to offset China's dominance in the ownership and processing of these materials. The U.S. is also lagging behind China on renewable energy and electric vehicles, driven in part by critical minerals.

 

"E-waste is a commodity that can be repurposed in our fight to not only be energy independent, but energy dominant," said Rep. Gary Palmer (R., Ala), who led a hearing as chair of the house committee on energy and commerce, advocating for the U.S. to "use recycling as a tool to compete with China and to protect our communities."

 

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R., Ky) echoed his assertion, advocating for the recovery of "valuable materials such as critical minerals from items that are discarded everyday."

 

Electronics recycling is complicated, especially with the medley of metals, glass and plastic that make up the devices. And electronic waste will expand courtesy of the data center boom fueling artificial intelligence, which uses graphic processing units and servers that only last for a few years.

 

Rep. Raul Ruiz (D., Calif.), who represents the resource-rich Imperial Valley region known as "Lithium Valley" near the Mexican border, focused on the importance of a critical-minerals strategy. He pushed for "critical mineral recovery and recycling to build a sustainable supply chain," citing energy dependence and national security. Lithium is used for electric vehicles and battery storage.

 

There are environmental considerations, also. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R., Iowa) highlighted that minerals from electronic waste can leach into the ground when piling up in landfills. In March, she reintroduced the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act, which would task the Environmental Protection Agency with setting up a program to boost recycling in communities that have at most one recovery facility within a 75-mile radius.” [1]

 

This is a real hit on China. What about Lithuanian “heroes”, fighting China, Landsbergis family, jobless right now, sitting on a Greek island and separating lithium out of trash? They would be real heroes.

 

1.  U.S. Legislators Embrace Technology Recycling. Hudson, Clara.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 21 July 2025: A4.