Recovering critical materials to save the planet
Summary
Among the electronic waste is a significant amount of ‘critical materials’ – including high value metals like gold, silver, platinum, and lithium that are widely used in mobiles, PCs, laptops, and batteries. The make-up of a typical mobile device reads like the periodic table, and the metals used to build them are at risk due to geological scarcity, geopolitical issues, or trade policies. To recover critical metals from electronic equipment, Tetronics’ process involves introducing the materials – in the PCB feedstock – into a sealed furnace and using a plasma arc to apply intense heat and ultra-violet light in a controlled environment. It prevents the exploitation of people in poorer economies who are used to source or recover materials in uncontrolled, unsafe, practices, and it reduces the opportunities for the illegal and dangerous trade in e-waste. There could be a case for tighter legislation around recycling e-waste, but the intention to alleviate the pressure on primary supply outlined in the government’s policy paper is a good starting point.