New laws in the EU have been created to strengthen the circular economy, an economic model aimed at minimising waste within the community and making the most of resources. This focuses on increasing the use of secondary raw materials, which include recycled metals, and slag. This law also aims to increase public supply.

University of Toronto engineering researchers have developed a new way to recycle steel that has the potential to decarbonise a range of manufacturing industries and promote a circular steel economy. The method is outlined in a new paper published in Resources, Conservation & Recycling and co-authored by Jaesuk (Jay) Paeng, William Judge and Professor Gisele Azimi. It introduces an innovative oxysulfide electrolyte for electrorefining, an alternative way of removing copper and carbon impurities from molten steel. The process also generates liquid iron and sulphur as by-products.