What is Urban Mining? Interview with Don Weatherbee from Regenx

Joining Dave, on the bridge of the good ship SS Tomorrow is Don Weatherbee from Regenx, discussing the innovative recycling of catalytic converters, particularly focusing on diesel engines. They explore the concept of the circular economy, the challenges of traditional recycling methods, and the future of urban mining. Don emphasises the importance of reusing metals and the potential of hydrogen as an alternative energy source while also addressing the sustainability goals aligned with their mission.

Keywords

Regenx, catalytic converters, diesel, circular economy, urban mining, platinum, palladium, recycling, sustainable development, hydrogen economy

Takeaways

Regenx focuses on recycling platinum and palladium from diesel catalytic converters.

The company is positioned in a niche market that is currently underserved.

Traditional recycling often results in downcycling rather than true recycling.

Urban mining is about reclaiming metals from urban environments for reuse.

The circular economy is hindered by collection challenges.

Sustainable development goals align with the mission of reusing metals.

The hydrogen economy may increase demand for platinum and palladium.

Battery life in extreme weather poses challenges for electric vehicles.

There is a need to shift towards a degrowth mindset in resource consumption.

Regenx aims to regenerate metals to their original state, unlike traditional recycling.