Bugs For Rare Metals?

'Green' technologies, such as electric vehicles; photovoltaics and wind turbines etc., are highly dependent on rare metals. These metals are distinctly finite and mustn't be wasted. University of Edinburgh scientists now aim to use bacteria to recycle them. They've found strains of microbes that can extract cobalt; lithium; manganese and other minerals from dissolved, discarded electronic batteries (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/25/bacteria-helping-to-extract-rare-metals-from-old-batteries-in-boost-for-green-tech). The bacteria synthesise nanoparticles of metals. This is, perhaps, a detoxification process by the 'bugs'. The nanoparticles can easily be extracted and the metals used to make new 'green tech'. This process seems to have great potential to deal with the mountains of discarded vapes! Currently, disposable vapes are rarely recycled in the UK. It's difficult, because they are complex mixtures of plastics, metals and chemicals. In the UK, more than 5 million disposable vapes are dumped on the streets each week. They contain enough lithium, to make 5000 batteries for electric vehicles. Extracting the lithium would be a win-win. It would remove unsightly, dangerous waste and help conserve the rare metal.