#Electronics Waste Recycling

[vandykrecyclingsolutions]

Understand Electronics Waste Recycling-Features,Function & Capabilities

[reasonsforhope]

"Scientists have developed a way to dramatically reduce the cost of recycling certain electronic waste by using whey protein.

Their method allows for the easy recovery of gold from circuit boards at a cost of energy and materials amounting to 50 times less than the price of the gold they recover—these are the numbers that big business likes to see.

Indeed, the potential for scalability depends on this sort of cost savings, something traditional e-waste recycling methods just can’t achieve.

Professor Raffaele Mezzenga from ETH Zurich has found that whey protein, a byproduct of dairy manufacturing, can be used to make sponges that attract trace amounts of ionized gold.

Electronic waste contains a variety of valuable metals, including copper, cobalt, and gold. Despite gold’s public persona as being either money or jewelry, thousands of ounces of gold are used in electronics every year for its exceptional conductive properties.

Mezzenga’s colleague Mohammad Peydayesh first “denatured whey proteins under acidic conditions and high temperatures, so that they aggregated into protein nanofibrils in a gel,” writes the ETH Zurich press. “The scientists then dried the gel, creating a sponge out of these protein fibrils.”

The next step was extracting the gold: done by tossing 20 salvaged motherboards into an acid bath until the metals had dissolved into ionized compounds that the sponge began attracting.

Removing the sponge, a heat treatment caused the gold ions to aggregate into 22-carat gold flakes which could be easily removed.

“The fact I love the most is that we’re using a food industry byproduct to obtain gold from electronic waste,” Mezzenga says. In a very real sense, he observes, the method transforms two waste products into gold. “You can’t get much more sustainable than that!” ...

However the real dollar value comes from the bottom line—which was 50 times more than the cost of energy and source materials. Because of this, the scientists have every intention of bringing the technology to the market as quickly as possible while also desiring to see if the protein fibril sponge can be made of other food waste byproducts.

E-waste is a quickly growing burden in global landfills, and recycling it requires extremely energy-intensive machinery that many recycling facilities do not possess.

The environmental value of the minerals contained within most e-waste comes not only from preventing the hundreds of years it takes for them to break down in the soil, but also from the reduction in demand from new mining operations which can, though not always, significantly degrade the environments they are located in.

[Note: Absolutely massive understatement, mining is incredibly destructive to ecosystems. Mining is also incredibly toxic to human health and a major cause of conflict, displacement, and slavery globally.]

Other countries are trying to incentivize the recycling of e-waste, and are using gold to do so. In 2022, GNN reported that the British Royal Mint launched an electronically traded fund (ETF) with each share representing the value of gold recovered from e-waste as a way for investors to diversify into gold in a way that doesn’t support environmentally damaging mining.

The breakthrough is reminiscent of that old fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin who can spin straw into gold. All that these modern-day, real-life alchemists are doing differently is using dairy and circuit boards rather than straw."

-via Good News Network, July 19, 2024

[mindblowingscience]

Transforming base materials into gold was one of the elusive goals of the alchemists of yore. Now Professor Raffaele Mezzenga from the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich has accomplished something in that vein. He has not of course transformed another chemical element into gold, as the alchemists sought to do. But he has managed to recover gold from electronic waste using a byproduct of the cheesemaking process. Electronic waste contains a variety of valuable metals, including copper, cobalt, and even significant amounts of gold. Recovering this gold from disused smartphones and computers is an attractive proposition in view of the rising demand for the precious metal.

Continue Reading.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Greener electronics being developed to reduce unsustainably high levels of e-waste

Greener sensors, circuit boards and other electronic devices are being developed by EU researchers to reduce unsustainably high levels of e-waste. To develop eco-friendly electronics such as sensors and circuit boards, Dr. Valerio Beni is following the paper trail—literally. An expert in green chemistry at Swedish research institute RISE, Beni has switched his focus to wood from pulp in a bid to make consumer electronic devices that have no carbon footprint and are easier to recycle.

Read more.

[e-wastemart]

Impact of E-Waste on Human Health and the Environment

Have you ever wondered what happens to your old electronics when you don't need them anymore? It's important to know about electronic waste or e-waste and how it affects us and the planet.

What is E-Waste?

E-waste is what we call old electronic stuff like phones, computers, and gadgets that people throw away. For detailed guides on E-Waste visit our blog What is E-Waste Recycling? and Why It’s Important

Why Is E-Waste a Problem?

E-waste is a big problem all over the world. Every year, there is more and more of it. This is not good for our health and the environment.

Health Problems

E-waste has dangerous things inside, like lead and mercury. When these things get into our food and water, they can make us sick. Breathing in bad air from burning e-waste is also harmful.

Harm to the Environment

When we don't recycle e-waste, it piles up in big garbage places. This takes up a lot of space and can hurt the land and animals. Also, our electronics have special metals inside that we can use again, like gold and silver. If we don't recycle them, we waste these important things.

What Can We Do?

There are things we can do to help with e-waste:

Use E-Waste Recyclers: E-waste recyclers are people or companies who take our old electronics and make them into new things.

Learn About E-Waste Recycling: There are different ways to recycle e-waste, and it's good to know about them.

Recycling Types: E-waste can be recycled in different ways. Some parts can be used again, and some can be turned into new things.

Let's all do our part to take care of our old electronics and keep our planet clean and healthy.

For a more in-depth exploration of this critical issue, visit our blog Impact of E-Waste on Human Health and the Environment or explore our website, E-Waste Mart.

[pranshucorpseed]

E-waste is an abbreviation for "electronic waste," and it refers to discarded electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, televisions, and other electronic products. E-waste is becoming more of a problem because these devices frequently contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can be harmful to human health and the environment if not properly disposed of. E-waste can also be a valuable source of raw materials like gold, silver, and copper, which can be recycled and used to make new products.

[wizard-mp4]

Not to mention that when you buy into apples ecosystem, you're locking yourself into it. That's not to say that Microsoft Windows is truly any better than Apple OS, and in many cases, it's not. But lock yourself into Apple, and you'll be overpaying for sometimes lesser hardware and always at an inflated price. And when you already have 1 apple product it's so easy to just keep buying into their ecosystem.

we need to be teaching kids that macbooks are shit and dont do anything or else tiktok freelancers will make them think macbooks are good

[recycleemirates]

Secure Computer Recycling and Data Destruction Solutions in Dubai

Recycle old computers and IT equipment with confidence through our secure recycling and data destruction services. Designed to prevent data breaches, our certified hard drive destruction service ensures sensitive data is removed before disposal. Promote sustainability and protect your business's information with our eco-friendly e-waste solutions in Dubai. Choose Recycle Emirates for safe and compliant computer recycling services. For more information visit: https://recycleemirates.com/

[namoewaste14]

How Electronic Waste Recyclers Manage E-Waste Safely

Electronic waste recyclers play a vital role in managing e-waste safely by adhering to strict environmental standards and secure processes. They begin by sorting items for reuse or recycling, ensuring valuable materials like metals are reclaimed. Hazardous components, such as batteries and toxic chemicals, are carefully isolated to prevent contamination. Certified recyclers also offer data destruction services, ensuring that sensitive information is fully erased. Through these eco-friendly practices, e-waste recyclers reduce landfill waste and promote sustainable resource use.

Visit Now to Know More: https://namoewaste.com/

[techazar]

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A post shared by Techazar l E-Waste Recycling Specialist Pan India (@techazar.in)

As an experienced e-waste recycling company, Techazar makes it easy to dispose of old electronics responsibly. Our convenient e-waste collection services are designed to make the process seamless for both individuals and businesses. Whether you need “computer recycling near me” for a single device or electronic recycling for an entire office, our team is equipped to handle e-waste of all types. Readmore

[reasonsforhope]

I'm worried about electronic waste, e-waste recycling, and such loss of resources.

That's real. For what it's worth, I think it's something we're going to get a LOT better at. The raw materials - and even partially depleted materials that can be downcycled - are too valuable to be left forever.

Tip for anyone worried about e-waste or looking to be more environmentally conscious: Whenever I have something electronic that dies (this includes batteries, power cords, string lights, and vapes), I stick it in an out-of-the-way drawer, and then once every year or two, I bring it all to either an e-waste recycling place or an e-waste disposal place (which, my understanding is most e-waste disposal places do a lot of materials reclamation as well, though if I'm wrong someone please correct me). I just look online to find a place.

Sometimes it's a bit of a drive, but it's so worth it. I encourage others to do the same!

Anyway, here's some headlines about e-waste to hopefully lift your spirits:

^That's Western Australia, not Washington state.

[mwrecycles]

In today's rapidly advancing scientific landscape, the proper disposal of lab equipment and medical machines has become a critical concern. In Singapore, the increasing volume of waste generated by laboratories necessitates a responsible approach to disposal. With regulations in place to protect the environment and public health, safe and eco-friendly disposal services have emerged as essential components of waste management.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Researchers develop increasingly sustainable methods for dissolving gold, silver and copper from recycled materials

Waste from computers and cell phones, solar panels and other discarded electronics are becoming an important source of noble metals alongside mining. Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed sustainable dissolution methods for noble metals. The extraction methods currently in use consume a lot of energy and are detrimental to the environment. The method of roasting is particularly dangerous for its practitioners and the environment because it releases hazardous chemicals. In developing countries, noble metals are to this day extracted under crude conditions in landfills. Even though advanced hydrometallurgical processes are safer and able to dissolve noble metals, the result is metal mixtures that require further processing. The findings of the Catalysis and Green Chemistry research group headed by Professor of Chemistry Timo Repo have been published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

Read more.

[wanderlustandwanderlust563]

Electronic Recycling and Council Pick Up Hassle-Free E-Waste Disposal

In today's digital era, electronic devices have become an integral part of our daily lives. From smartphones and laptops to household appliances, technology is ever-present. However, the rapid advancement and frequent upgrading of electronics have led to a significant increase in electronic waste, or e-waste. Proper disposal of these items is crucial to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainability. This article explores how electronic recycling and council pick-up services offer a hassle-free solution for e-waste disposal.

[thewordsmith4343]

Computer recycling

Recycling laptops doesn't have to be a daunting task. With numerous e-waste solutions available across Australia, individuals and businesses can easily participate in responsible recycling practices. By doing so, we not only comply with legal obligations but also contribute to environmental conservation and resource sustainability. Let's make a collective effort to reduce e-waste and protect our planet for future generations.

[thewanderer4225]

The Growing Problem of E-Waste in Australia

Australia is one of the highest producers of e-waste per capita globally. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the nation generates over 500,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. Unfortunately, only a fraction of this waste is recycled properly, with the rest ending up in landfills. E-waste contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can leach into the soil and water, posing significant environmental and health risks.