SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: January 5-9, 2026

January 09, 2026

Morgan Stanley Forecasts Gold at $4,800 by Fourth Quarter of 2026

Morgan Stanley forecast gold would hit $4,800 per ounce by the fourth quarter of this year, exceeding last year’s records, citing falling interest rates, a change in leadership at the Federal Reserve, and buying by central banks and funds. In a note dated January 5, it also said events in Venezuela over the weekend were likely to attract buyers to gold as a safe haven, but did not specify this as a reason for its $4,800/oz forecast. (Source: Reuters)

Copper Stabilizes After Sharp Drop

Copper futures stabilized near $5.8 per ounce on Friday following a sharp two-day selloff, as investors reassessed expectations around tightening supply and robust global demand. Earlier in the week, prices surged to record highs amid concerns that the Trump administration could impose new tariffs on refined metals, potentially diverting shipments into the US and constraining supply elsewhere. Supply-side risks were further highlighted by comments from an executive at Australia’s BHP Group, who warned that the copper market could face a structural deficit between 2030 and 2035 and urged increased production. On the demand side, sentiment remains supported by expectations of strong consumption tied to power grid upgrades, renewable energy investment, and the expansion of data center infrastructure. However, ongoing weakness in China’s construction sector, a key source of demand, continues to pose a potential headwind for copper prices. (Source: Trading Economics)

Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD Rebounds Above $77.00 Amid Market Caution

Silver price (XAG/USD) edges higher after two days of losses, trading around $77.20 per troy ounce during the Asian hours on Friday. The prices of the precious metals, including silver hold ground as traders adopt caution ahead of key US jobs data amid elevated geopolitical tensions. Traders await the US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report, which is expected to offer further insight into labor market conditions and the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) policy outlook. December NFP is forecast to show job gains of 60,000, down from 64,000 in November. (Source: FXStreet)

Iron Ore Holds Near 11-Month High

Iron ore futures held above CNY 810 per ton on Friday, hovering near their highest level since February last year, supported by solid demand and pre-holiday restocking by steelmakers ahead of the Lunar New Year. Prices were also underpinned by expectations of additional stimulus from top consumer China, after a modest acceleration in consumer price inflation masked underlying deflationary pressures. Earlier this week, the People’s Bank of China said it plans to lower the reserve requirement ratio and cut key policy rates this year to ensure ample liquidity and maintain an accommodative monetary stance. Meanwhile, industry data showed iron ore inventories at major Chinese ports rose for a seventh consecutive week to a near-record 162.7 million tons as of January 8. Steel inventories also increased in the latest reporting period, highlighting improved supply availability. (Source: Trading Economics)

SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: January 5-9, 2026

Rio Tinto and Glencore Hold Buyout Talks to Create $207 Billion Mega-Miner

Glencore and Rio Tinto said late on Thursday they were in early buyout talks that could potentially create the world’s largest mining company with a combined market value of nearly $207 billion. Global miners are racing to bulk up in metals like copper, set to benefit from the global energy transition, and that has sparked a wave of project expansions and takeover attempts. The discussions between Rio Tinto and Glencore about combining some or all of their businesses are the second round of talks in just over a year between the two companies, after Glencore approached Rio Tinto in late 2024 but a deal did not proceed. The two companies said one option would include an all-share buyout of Glencore by Rio Tinto. There was no certainty that the terms of any deal or offer would be agreed upon, the miners said after the Financial Times first reported the revived talks. (Source: Reuters)

Arcwood Environmental Acquires MXI Environmental Services/ Dynamic Recycling

Arcwood Environmental, a leader in sustainable waste management and environmental services, announced that it has acquired MXI Environmental Services/ Dynamic Recycling, a Virginia-based provider of hazardous and non-hazardous waste management, recycling, and environmental cleanup solutions. The acquisition adds to Arcwood’s waste transportation and management capabilities and strengthens Arcwood’s operational presence across the Eastern United States. MXI and its 150+ employees partner with business and local governments to ensure safe, compliant, and sustainable handling of regulated materials and deliver recycling programs that help clients reduce environmental impact. (Source: PR Newswire)

Noveon Magnetics, Kangwon Energy, and LG Electronics Launch Closed-Looped Rare Earth Magnet Recycling Initiative

Noveon Magnetics, Kangwon Energy Co., Ltd., and LG Electronics Co., Ltd. announced a strategic agreement to advance closed-loop recycling of rare earth permanent magnets, leveraging Noveon’s proprietary Magnet-to-Magnet (M2M™) technology. As part of the program’s initial phase, the companies will utilize Noveon’s technology on end-of-life (EOL) magnets recovered from LG Electronics products to produce new, high-performance magnets for LG products. The program will expand with additional production capacity at a new facility in South Korea that is currently under development through Noveon’s joint venture with Kangwon Energy. Collaborating with LG Electronics on technology development and using their products for validation ensures real-world performance data, supporting future adoption across multiple industries. (Source: NOVEON)

Call2Recycle Expands Its National Presence with the Launch of New Brunswick’s Battery Recycling Program

Call2Recycle, Canada’s battery collection and recycling organization, announced the launch of its Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! program in New Brunswick this January. The program will provide households and businesses across the province with convenient, safe, and environmentally responsible options to recycle their used batteries. With this launch, residents across New Brunswick, from Saint John, Fredericton, and Moncton to Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston, Miramichi, and the Acadian Peninsula, will have access to a growing, province-wide network of convenient collection locations, including retail stores, municipal depots, public institutions, and community facilities, supported by ongoing public education efforts to promote safe and responsible battery recycling. The program builds on Call2Recycle’s 28 years of experience in delivering safe and efficient battery collection and recycling systems across Canada. (Source: Call2Recycle)

Universal Recycling Technologies Launches NEXLOOP™ Circular Materials Platform

Universal Recycling Technologies (URT) has launched NEXLOOP, a circular materials platform aimed at helping electronics manufacturers integrate recycled materials while meeting regulatory, environmental and supply-chain requirements, the company said. The platform is designed to address growing pressure on manufacturers to meet recycled-content mandates, manage Scope 3 emissions reporting and reduce compliance and brand risks. NEXLOOP combines materials engineering, compliance oversight and traceable supply chains to deliver electronics-derived recycled materials suitable for large-scale manufacturing. The first application is the NEXLOOP Polymers Alliance, focused on recycled plastics for electronics. The alliance includes South Korea-based partners Hanil Eco Solutions, Shinil and BH Tech, covering polymer production, compounding and component manufacturing. URT said the platform allows manufacturers to adopt circular materials without overhauling existing suppliers. “NEXLOOP was built to combine compliance, performance and flexibility into one trusted system,” said URT President Ken Thomas. (Source: Universal Recycling Technologies)

Honda and Princeton NuEnergy Sign MOU to Advance Collaboration in Next-Generation Battery Recycling Technologies

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Princeton NuEnergy Inc. announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance discussion on collaboration around next-generation lithium-ion battery recycling technologies. The agreement reflects the companies’ shared intention to strengthen the circular battery materials supply chain and U.S energy independence through innovative recycling and rejuvenation pathways. Since 2022, Honda and PNE have conducted joint technical validation of PNE’s plasma-based Direct Recycling and Upcycling technologies for lithium-ion battery manufacturing scrap and end-of-life materials. Through this work, PNE has produced rejuvenated NMC cathode active material with performance characteristics comparable to virgin material, supporting Honda’s long-term goals for resource circularity and electrification. The MOU outlines a framework for a strategic partnership focused on collaborative validation projects and the potential for future commercial-scale applications. It reflects alignment between Honda’s global electrification strategy and PNE’s mission to expand cost-efficient production of battery-grade cathode active materials through a closed-loop platform. (Source: PR Newswire)

Metallium and Glencore Sign Binding E-Scrap Supply Agreement to Scale FJH

Metallium Ltd has signed its first binding feedstock supply contract, with its US subsidiary Flash Metals USA Inc. executing a binding electronic-scrap (e-scrap) supply agreement with Glencore Ltd. Under the agreement, Glencore will supply up to 2,400 tonnes per annum of e-scrap into Metallium’s US operations, supporting commissioning and scale-up of the company’s Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology platform at its Texas Technology Campus. The deal follows technical and commercial collaboration under a previously announced memorandum of understanding, with the parties also progressing a separate binding offtake agreement. (Source: Metallium)

SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: January 5-9, 2026

South Korea to Include Plastic Toys in Recycling Responsibility Scheme from 2026

South Korea has formally brought plastic toys under its extended producer responsibility (EPR) recycling scheme from Jan. 1, 2026, expanding mandatory recycling to reduce landfill and incineration waste, according to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. Under the revised rules, manufacturers must meet recycling obligations through payments to a producer responsibility organization, which distributes subsidies to recyclers based on performance. Eighteen categories of toys, including puzzle, block and assembly toys, are covered, with a standard recycling cost set at 343 won per kilogram. The ministry said most toys are made of recyclable plastic but were previously discarded due to weak incentives and unclear disposal guidance. New rules also clarify consumer disposal, particularly for toys containing batteries or electronic components. (Source: the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment)

Recycling Europe Urges Mandatory Recycled Content Rules for EU Textiles

Recycling Europe Textiles has called on the European Commission to introduce mandatory recycled content targets for textile products under the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), arguing that voluntary measures have failed to drive demand for recycled fibers. In a position paper submitted to the Commission, the industry group said binding requirements are needed to support investment in textile-to-textile recycling and prevent continued reliance on virgin materials. It proposed minimum recycled content thresholds differentiated by product category and urged policymakers to prioritize high-value textile recycling over down-cycling. The push comes as the EU rolls out extended producer responsibility schemes and mandatory separate textile waste collection. Industry stakeholders say end-of-life rules must be matched by stronger upstream demand. The Commission is expected to finalize textile-specific ESPR measures later in 2026, with potential impacts extending across global apparel supply chains, including major exporters in Asia. (Source: Textile Today)

SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: January 5-9, 2026