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Storyline:
China's recycling industry provides new source of raw materials for manufacturing

[Voice_over]

China's rapidly growing recycling industry is playing an increasing role in the country's industrial economy by turning various end-of-life products into valuable raw materials.

From scrap cars to spent batteries, recycling firms like this one in the southern city of Foshan are helping recover metals, including cobalt and lithium.

[Sound_bite]

Ou Yannan, head, power battery recycling factory:

"At present, our recovery rate of nickel, cobalt and manganese is 99.6 percent, and the recovery rate of lithium is 91 percent. The recycled lithium will be reused as the positive electrode material for new power batteries, which truly allows battery resources to go where they come from."

[Voice_over]

Data from the China Resource Recycling Association shows roughly 93 million pre-owned home appliances were recycled last year, as well as more than 390 million tons of materials like scrap steel, non-ferrous metals and waste plastics.

Experts say these recycled materials are becoming an essential part of the supply chain in China.

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Zhang Longqiang, head, China Metallurgical Information and Standardization Institute:

"Last year, we recycled about 260 million tons of scrap steel alone, which contributed more than 20 percent of the ferrous raw materials of the entire steel industry."

[Voice_over]

According to estimates, the number of recycled used vehicles and home appliances in the country is projected to surge by 100 percent and 30 percent, respectively, by 2027.

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