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Discover how urban mining is turning e-waste into a gold mine.
Have you ever imagined finding gold in the trash? It sounds like something out of a movie, but the idea is gaining traction with the urban mining revolution. Technology is allowing urban miners to tap into an unexpected resource: printed circuit boards (PCBs) found in electronic waste. These boards, which were once discarded without much concern, are proving to be veritable “gold mines.”
Gold in e-waste: the potential of PCBs
To get an idea, one ton of PCBs can contain up to 150 grams of pure gold, as well as other precious metals such as silver, palladium and copper. In terms of financial return, this means more than 19 thousand euros per ton — a value significantly higher than that of traditional mining, according to data from The Economist.
Despite this potential, in 2022, the world discarded 62 million tons of electronic waste, but less than a quarter of this total was formally recycled. In other words, tons of gold in the trash are being wasted every year. Much of this waste ends up in landfills or undergoes inappropriate processes, such as burning or using strong acids, rendering the metals unusable and worsening the damage to the environment.
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Mining with innovation and sustainability
To solve these problems, more sustainable and innovative alternatives are emerging. One of the most promising is the use of bacteria in the process of extracting precious metals from PCBs. This technique allows gold to be recovered from waste in a clean and efficient way, reducing environmental impact and maximizing economic results.
A future with sustainable gold
Urban mining is redefining what it means to mine natural resources. With more investment in clean technologies and awareness of e-waste recycling, turning waste into wealth could be the next big step toward a sustainable future. After all, there is literally gold in trash, and the challenge now is figuring out how to harness it in a smart and responsible way.
In Brazil, all recycling yards charge for plates that are separated from other waste. The last time I saw it was 10 reais per kilo, in 2016. Nowadays it must be more.
How to acquire knowledge about this recycling?
There are videos of the extraction process, the problem is that solvents and machinery are used to extract the gold from the plates, meaning that if it is done on a small scale it ends up not being worth it.
Don't just hang around, join an association and stay with the collectors. Go to a scrapyard and start working as a collector and observe what can and cannot be sold. Then you will create an experience.
It is less. Because it is difficult to extract, a market dominated by Chinese immigrants.
IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW TO WRITE THE TITLE CORRECTLY... IT'S NOT 62 TONS OF GOLD, BUT ELECTRONIC WASTE, WHICH COULD BE CONSIDERED A VERY RICH GOLD ORE, IF IT REACHES 150 GRAMS PER TON, AS PER THE TEXT PRESENTED... ON THE OTHER HAND, CONGRATULATIONS ON GREAT INFORMATION!!!! READ: #Despite this potential, in 2022, the world discarded 62 million tons of electronic waste, but less than a quarter of this total was formally recycled. In other words, tons of gold in the trash are being wasted every year. #To give you an idea, one ton of PCBs can contain up to 150 grams of pure gold, as well as other precious metals such as silver, palladium and copper. In terms of financial return, this means more than 19 thousand euros per ton.