Taskforce launch turns focus to gaps in circular metals markets
A new national taskforce will bring industry, government and researchers together to examine where circular practices in minerals and metals are working, where value is being missed, and what policy and investment signals are needed to shift the market.
A new Circular Minerals and Metals Taskforce will be formally launched at an online session hosted by Circular Australia on 7 May 2026, bringing together industry, policy and research stakeholders to examine how circular economy principles are being applied across the sector.
The webinar, titled the Circular Minerals & Metals Taskforce Activator, will centre on practical issues such as where circular approaches are already delivering value, where they are not, and what is required to move from isolated activity to broader market uptake.
Embedding circular economy practices into minerals and metals is now a core economic and strategic priority for Australia.
Industry, research and international perspectives
The program includes contributions from companies such as Fortescue and BlueScope, alongside international experts and researchers from the Netherlands and UNSW.
Discussion will cover operational case examples, including secondary extraction, circular processing and early-stage concepts such as zero-waste mine design and nature-positive resource operations. These examples are intended to ground the conversation in current practice rather than theory.
A key part of the session will be a facilitated breakout, where participants can provide direct input into the Taskforce’s 2026 work program.
Identifying gaps and signals for investment
The session is structured to give participants a clear view of the current state of circular minerals and metals in Australia, including where value is being captured and where it is not.
It will also examine the constraints affecting market activation, from policy settings to investment conditions, and outline the signals expected to influence the sector over the next 12 to 24 months.
Attendees will explore how circular approaches intersect with critical minerals strategy, onshore processing and urban mining, with a focus on practical pathways rather than high-level commitments.
Pathway to shape the 2026 program
The Taskforce is intended to act as a coordination platform across industry, government and research, supporting collaboration to inform policy, develop business cases and expand circular practices across both traditional and urban mining.
Participants will also be invited to join the Taskforce, providing an ongoing mechanism for engagement beyond the initial session.
Open invitation for sector participants
The event is designed for decision-makers and practitioners involved in how minerals and metals are sourced, processed, reused or governed, including those working across resources, finance, policy and research.
It will run online from 12:30pm to 2:00pm AEST on Thursday, 7 May 2026, with free registration available.
For organisations operating in regions where mining, processing and manufacturing intersect, the focus on where value is currently lost and how it can be retained may shape how future projects are scoped, financed and delivered.
