At the same time, valuable resources are already present within Europe’s cities. Discarded electronics, batteries, vehicles, and other end-of-life products contain significant amounts of Strategic Raw Materials that can be recovered and reused. Instead of being lost as waste, these materials can become a key part of Europe’s circular future.

This is the vision behind METIUM.

METIUM (HydroMEtallurgical Tech for Interregional Urban Mining) is a European project focused on building Europe’s first interregional Urban Mining ecosystem. By bringing together 19 partners from across Europe, the project combines expertise in research, industry, recycling, engineering, and innovation to develop sustainable solutions for resource recovery.

The project aims to transform urban waste into valuable Strategic Raw Materials through advanced hydrometallurgical technologies and innovative Urban Mining value chains. By connecting collection, pre-processing, and recovery processes, METIUM creates efficient pathways for extracting high-value materials from waste streams.

Beyond technological innovation, METIUM contributes to a broader European ambition: reducing dependency on imported raw materials while strengthening industrial resilience and sustainability. Recovering materials from waste not only conserves resources but also reduces the need for primary extraction, supporting a more circular and low-carbon economy.

Collaboration is at the heart of the project. Through cross-border partnerships and industrial validation, METIUM helps bridge the gap between research and real-world application, ensuring that innovative recycling solutions can be scaled and implemented across European regions.

Urban waste is no longer just a challenge to manage—it is an opportunity to recover value, secure resources, and support Europe’s future.

With METIUM, Urban Mining starts now.