Old Electronic Devices Provide Precious Metals for Recyclers
The electronic devices that surround you on a daily basis are built with many components that contain precious metals of gold, silver, copper, and palladium. From cell phones to modems and computers, old electronics are finding a new lease on life in the electronics recycling marketplace. The Importance of Electronics Recycling Electronics recycling is critical in diverting solid waste and supporting zero landfill initiatives. Also highly significant, electronics recycling helps eliminate toxic scrap. While it constitutes a minority of solid waste, it represents up to 70% of toxic waste . This e-waste is a particularly rich source of precious metals—with concentrations 40 to 50 times more abundant than naturally occurring in ore deposits. There are over 320 tons of gold and greater than 7,500 tons of silver used each year to make new electronic products around the world. As a result, there are more than $21 billion in precious metals inventoried in these devices—$16 bi...