Strengthening UK Metal Resilience Through Tin Mining and Recycling
02/07/2025
The UK is taking significant steps to secure critical mineral supplies, most recently demonstrated by the revival of the historic South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall. Backed by a £28.6 million investment from the National Wealth Fund, the site is undergoing extensive dewatering and modernisation ahead of a planned return to production by late 2027. Once operational, South Crofty will bring higher-grade, domestically sourced tin to market, reducing reliance on imports from China, Myanmar, and Indonesia.
This development is only part of a broader vision to build a stronger and more resilient metals ecosystem. Tin is a non-ferrous metal that can be recycled indefinitely without any loss of quality, supporting a truly circular material lifecycle. Whether mined in Cornwall or recovered through scrap recycling and advanced non-ferrous metal separation technologies, tin can be remelted and reused endlessly, reinforcing its strategic value for long-term resource security.
Innovations in UK-based recycling, including eddy current separation systems and density-based dry separation processes such as fluidised bed separators, are further enhancing the recovery of non-ferrous metals like tin. These technologies enable operators to process mixed waste streams efficiently, without excessive energy or water consumption. In doing so, they help create sustainable material flows and reduce the environmental impact of metal recovery.
Why this matters:
- Supply resilience: Cornwall’s renewed tin production adds vital domestic capacity. At the same time, recycling ensures recovered tin continues to contribute to the UK’s industrial needs.
- Environmental benefit: Reducing import logistics lowers the carbon footprint while maintaining consistent material quality.
- Economic opportunity: The mining revival is creating new jobs in Cornwall, and growing demand for recycling equipment and expertise is supporting further innovation across the UK.
Together, these efforts are creating a stronger, greener, and more resilient UK metals supply chain—one underpinned by domestic resources, innovative recycling equipment, and advanced separation technologies.
If your operation is exploring ways to improve nonferrous metal separation or enhance your overall metal recovery processes, contact our team to discuss how our solutions can support your goals.
Source: https://www.nationalwealthfund.org.uk
