UK Royal Mint mining PCBs for precious metals in e-waste recovery effort
The UK Royal Mint's new factory aims to recover precious metals from e-waste, processing 4,000 metric tons annually and extracting up to 450 kg of gold using an efficient method.
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The UK Royal Mint has launched its Precious Metals Recovery factory, aimed at extracting valuable materials from old Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) as part of an e-waste recovery initiative. With the UK generating approximately 50 million metric tons of e-waste annually, a figure projected to rise to 120 million tons by 2050, the factory's capacity to process 4,000 metric tons may seem minimal but represents a significant step forward. The facility utilizes a new method developed by Canadian company Excir, which operates at room temperature and can extract 99% of gold from PCBs within seconds. The process is expected to yield up to 450 kg of gold, which will primarily be used in the Royal Mint's sustainable jewelry line, although it can also be applied to other gold products. The Royal Mint's efforts come amid a global challenge of managing e-waste, which is growing at a rate five times faster than recycling capabilities. Addressing this issue may require a combination of improved disposal methods and legislation promoting the repair of electronic devices.
- The Royal Mint's new factory focuses on recovering precious metals from e-waste.
- The UK generates 50 million metric tons of e-waste annually, expected to rise significantly.
- The factory can process 4,000 metric tons of e-waste, extracting up to 450 kg of gold.
- The extraction method is energy-efficient, operating at room temperature.
- E-waste recycling is a growing global challenge, outpacing current recycling efforts.
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