SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: April 27-May 1, 2026

May 01, 2026

Goldman Sees Downside Risks to Its 2026 Gold Price Target

Goldman Sachs has reiterated its forecast for gold to reach $5,400 per ounce by the end of 2026, while warning that short-term risks could weigh on prices. The bank said gold remains vulnerable to further sell-offs, particularly if geopolitical tensions persist or financial markets face additional corrections. Analysts noted that liquidation pressures could intensify amid volatility linked to disruptions in key regions and weakness in equities or bonds. Despite these risks, Goldman maintains a constructive long-term view, underpinned by strong central bank demand. The bank expects official sector purchases to average about 60 tonnes per month through 2026, although buying briefly slowed earlier this year due to price volatility. Survey data from central banks also point to continued accumulation, with most respondents expecting reserves and prices to rise over the next year. Goldman added that anticipated U.S. rate cuts could support prices, while broader geopolitical and fiscal concerns may further drive demand over the medium term. (Source: Investing.com)

World Bank Sees Gold, Silver Prices Capped Despite Volatility

The World Bank expects gold and silver prices to remain near current highs through 2026, despite ongoing geopolitical volatility and strong recent gains. In its latest Commodity Market Outlook, the bank said gold rose 17% in the first quarter, while silver surged 55% over the same period. However, analysts noted that recent price pullbacks suggest a cooling of speculative momentum that had driven markets earlier this year. The bank forecasts gold to average about $4,700 per ounce in 2026 and silver around $70, before both decline roughly 7% in 2027. Rising energy costs and inflation could weigh on prices by increasing the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets. Still, risks remain tilted to the upside, with potential safe-haven demand from geopolitical tensions or financial instability. (Source: Kitco News)

Plastic Ingenuity Uses Recycled Polypropylene in Coffee Lids Through PureCycle Partnership

Plastic Ingenuity has partnered with PureCycle Technologies, Inc. to incorporate recycled polypropylene into coffee lid production, marking a step toward more sustainable food-service packaging. Under the collaboration, Plastic Ingenuity is using PureCycle’s PureFive® resin, with recycled content ranging from 25% to 100%, while maintaining performance standards required for food-contact applications. PureFive® is produced with a dissolution recycling process that removes contaminants from post-consumer polypropylene, resulting in material comparable to virgin resin. The company said the resin is certified for recycled content and cleared for food-contact use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Executives said the initiative addresses growing demand for high-quality recycled materials in high-volume applications such as coffee lids, helping brands reduce reliance on virgin plastics and advance circular packaging goals. (Source: PureCycle Technologies)

CSI Electronics Processing Centre Achieves R2v3 Certification in Canada

CSI Electronics Processing Centre Ltd. has obtained R2v3 certification for its IT asset disposition facility in Oakville, marking a milestone in its effort to standardize operations across Canada. The certification, issued by Sustainable Electronics Recycling International, sets requirements for environmental, health, safety and data security practices in electronics recycling. With the latest approval, CSI EPC now operates two R2v3-certified sites in the country and said it aims to extend the certification to all Canadian facilities. The company said the designation reflects a broad internal effort to strengthen compliance, data protection and operational quality, reinforcing its position in the ITAD sector. (Source: CSI Leasing)

Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations Opens Facility in Virginia’s Data Center Hub

Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations has opened a new facility in Loudoun County, expanding its presence in one of the world’s largest data center markets. The site, located in the region known as “Data Center Alley,” is designed to support hyperscale, colocation and enterprise customers with IT asset disposition (ITAD), data center decommissioning and lifecycle management services. Company founder Miles Harter said the expansion aligns with customer demand in a key digital infrastructure hub, while President Alicia Suessmith noted the facility will help meet the operational needs of organizations managing complex data environments. Local officials and business leaders attended the opening event, highlighting the investment’s role in supporting regional economic growth. The facility offers services including secure data destruction, asset remarketing, material recovery and ESG-focused reporting. (Source: Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations)

Ace Green Recycling Secures $32 Million PIPE to Support SPAC Merger and Battery Recycling Expansion

Ace Green Recycling, Inc. and Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II have announced a $32 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) financing to support their planned business combination, a key step toward listing the combined company on Nasdaq under the ticker “AGXI.” The funding round includes participation from institutional investors and is intended to scale Ace Green’s battery recycling operations, including its GREENLEAD® and LithiumFirst™ technologies for lithium-ion and lead batteries. The company said the proceeds will help finance its planned Texas facility and support broader expansion and acquisitions. Ace CEO Nishchay Chadha said the investment will accelerate efforts to build “emissions-free” recycling processes aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains for critical battery materials. The transaction remains subject to completion of the proposed merger. (Source: Ace Green Recycling)

Axens, IFPEN and JEPLAN Complete Textile-to-Textile Polyester Recycling Trial

Axens, IFP Energies nouvelles and JEPLAN have successfully demonstrated a semi-industrial process to recycle polyester textiles into new materials, marking a step toward circular production in the textile sector. The partners processed several tens of tons of post-consumer polyester-rich textile waste at a demonstration unit in Japan, producing BHET, a key monomer used to make recycled polyester. The output is expected to be converted into yarns, fabrics and garments, completing a closed-loop system. The trial used Rewind® PET technology, previously applied to packaging, and is among the first to validate textile-to-textile chemical recycling at this scale. The companies said the process could be deployed at existing industrial sites, offering manufacturers a pathway to reduce reliance on virgin fossil-based materials and scale circular textile production. (Source: Axens)

Sirmax and De’ Longhi Launch Coffee Machine with High Recycled Plastic Content

Sirmax Group and De’ Longhi Group have developed a new coffee machine using up to 70% recycled plastic, highlighting growing adoption of circular materials in consumer appliances. The Eletta Ultra model incorporates recycled polymers sourced from post-consumer waste streams, including waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Key components such as panels and lids are made from Sirmax’s Green Isoter compound, based on recycled ABS from end-of-life electronics, designed to meet durability and aesthetic requirements. Sirmax said additional structural parts were produced using recycled resins with high mechanical and thermal resistance. The product will be showcased at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2026 in May and has been shortlisted for a Product of the Year award, recognizing innovation in recycled material use and design. (Source: Plastic Insights)

Quantum Lifecycle Partners Invests $14M in Advanced E-Plastic Recovery Facility

Quantum Lifecycle Partners has invested $14 million to expand its electronics recycling capabilities with a new plastics recovery line in Toronto. The facility integrates a $4 million float-sink separation system into the company’s existing processing infrastructure, enabling the sorting of mixed plastics from end-of-life electronics into clean, high-quality polymer streams. The output meets international trade standards, creating a marketable commodity from a waste stream often exported or downcycled. Company executives said the investment supports compliance with Ontario Extended Producer Responsibility program and strengthens domestic processing capacity. Officials noted that recovering usable plastics from electronic waste has been technically challenging, but the new system allows materials to re-enter supply chains, advancing circular economy goals in Canada’s electronics sector. (Source: Quantum Lifecycle)

Rocklink India Launches Battery and Rare Earth Recycling Facility in Uttar Pradesh

Rocklink India Pvt. Ltd. has commissioned its first integrated recycling facility in Uttar Pradesh, targeting lithium-ion batteries, rare earth magnets and industrial metal waste. Located in Sikandrabad, the plant has an initial capacity to process 10,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries annually, alongside rare earth magnet recycling of 60 tonnes per month. A rare earth chloride processing line is expected to come online in early 2026. The company said its in-house recycling technology can handle a wide range of battery chemistries and achieve metal recovery rates above 98%, producing black mass for downstream refining. The facility also incorporates emissions control systems to manage volatile compounds. Rocklink plans to expand into battery refurbishment and introduce reverse logistics for magnet scrap collection, aiming to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical materials. (Source: Times of India)

Wisconsin Enacts Battery Recycling Law to Boost Collection and Reduce Fire Risks

According to industry reports, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has signed two bipartisan laws establishing a producer-funded battery recycling program aimed at improving collection and reducing fire hazards across Wisconsin. The legislation requires battery producers to join a stewardship organization and submit a statewide recycling plan to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources by January 2027. Once implemented, the program will offer free battery collection, with a disposal ban on covered batteries taking effect in 2028. The rules apply to portable and medium-format batteries, including lithium-ion and single-use types commonly found in electronics and small appliances. Lead-acid vehicle batteries are excluded. Officials said the measure addresses safety concerns, as improperly discarded batteries can ignite during waste handling, posing risks to workers and facilities. (Source: Waste Today)

EU Widens Russia Sanctions to Scrap, Metal Goods

The European Union has expanded its sanctions against Russia and Belarus, tightening restrictions across metals, scrap and industrial goods as part of broader measures targeting trade and supply chains. The updated package introduces import bans on key metal waste streams, including ferrous scrap, copper scrap, nickel scrap and aluminium scrap from Russia. It also extends export restrictions on steel fasteners, cast iron or steel products, welding materials and metalworking equipment. For Belarus, the measures add bans on iron ore and steel-related waste imports, alongside new export controls on industrial components and tools used in metal processing. The EU said the measures aim to limit revenue streams linked to the metals sector while also reducing access to industrial inputs that could support production capacity, with some transitional exemptions for existing contracts. (Source: EUROMETAL)