Global Metal Recycling Industry Forecasts Strong Growth on Sustainability Push

Market research reports project rapid expansion in metal extraction and recycling sectors. A technology‑focused base‑metal extraction market was valued at about USD 120 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 180 billion by 2025, growing at a 7% CAGR, driven by construction, automotive and electric‑vehicle demand and by environmentally‑responsible extraction methods.

In the United States, the metal recycling market was worth roughly USD 78.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to climb to USD 92.9 billion by 2030, a 3.1% CAGR, supported by infrastructure spending, renewable‑energy projects and stricter environmental regulations. A separate study on secondary silver recycling forecasts the sector to grow from USD 6.8 billion per ton in 2020 to USD 10.3 billion per ton in 2027, a 5.5% CAGR, as demand rises for recycled silver in electronics and photovoltaic applications.

Policy initiatives such as the European Union’s Circular Economy Package and U.S. EPA mining‑waste regulations are encouraging higher recycling rates and the adoption of advanced technologies like hydraulic mining and hydrometallurgy, further underpinning the sector’s growth.