This inquiry must be designed to ascertain whether the metals originated (a) in the DRC or neighboring countries, (b) in another geographic region, or (c) from recycled or scrap metals.

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Precious metals refining, scrap metal, recycling: they all share this same economic point.

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Make it harder for scrap metal dealers to sell stolen metals.

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The British Metals Recycling Association has been supporting the Scrap Metal Dealers Bill, saying a cash ban alone will not reduce metal theft.

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Even in the case of precious metals like gold and palladium, she said recovery of scrap is much higher if the printed circuit boards are manually removed, rather than being thrown in a shredder.

FORBES: INTERVIEW: Recycling Of Specialty Metals Needs Improvement - Yale Researcher

The metals industry could see a greater increase in reclamation of scrap metal if collection of discarded products was improved, along with better designs to promote disassembly of products and using more modern recycling methodology.

FORBES: INTERVIEW: Recycling Of Specialty Metals Needs Improvement - Yale Researcher

Ian Hetherington, head of the British Metals Recycling Association, said there was a problem with the number of illegal scrap dealers in the UK which could be as many as 900.

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Britain is the fifth biggest exporter of scrap metal in the world and the metal recycling industry insists it is doing everything it can to prevent stolen metals passing through its sites.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Task force targets metal thefts