Project Description
WEEE-NET9.SPEED scales up bioleaching for critical raw material recovery from e-waste (WEEE), offering an eco-friendly, low-emission alternative to traditional methods. By piloting advanced bioreactor testing, the project brings lab-scale innovation closer to industrial application, supporting recyclers and RIS-region stakeholders in building a greener, circular WEEE recycling ecosystem.
Duration: 1.1.2025 – 31.12.2025
Objectives
- Scale up bioleaching for eco-friendly CRMs recovery from WEEE
- Strengthen industrial readiness of bioleaching in RIS countries
- Expand the WEEE recycling value chain through pilot demonstrations
- Promote low-emission, circular economy solutions in e-waste management
- Support market uptake through stakeholder engagement and policy alignment
Innovation
- Scalable bioleaching process for selective CRMs recovery from WEEE
- Up to 80% lower CO₂ emissions vs. traditional methods
- Reduced use of hazardous chemicals and energy
- Lower operational and waste management costs
- Eco-friendly recovery of Cu, Ni, Zn, Ag, Au, Pd, and others
Outputs
- Pilot-scale bioleaching in 3 bioreactor capacities (2 L, 20 L, 100 L)
- 100+ stakeholders engaged through trainings and dissemination
- Demonstrated CO₂ reduction of up to 80% vs. pyrometallurgy
- Toolkit for recyclers to adopt bioleaching processes
- Strengthened CRM recovery capacity in RIS countries
- Enhanced collaboration with different institutions and recyclers
- Market-ready roadmap for bioleaching scale-up (TRL 7)