These days, laptops and mobile devices are everywhere and constantly being upgraded, so knowing what to do with all the metal components inside discarded devices is simply good business. This is especially true when you realise that the value of recycled metal components in electronic devices in China will be worth more than £18 billion by 2030, according to the environmental activist organisation Greenpeace.
Huge market
China has become the world’s largest user of mobile devices, and the nation now has a growing awareness of the importance of recycling waste from electronic devices, also known as e-waste. Becoming more efficient users of e-waste will have several benefits for China, including reducing reliance on foreign and imported parts, driving down costs, and lessening the burden on the environment.
Caring for the environment is a growing concern in China. While photos of Beijing hidden in smog used to be very common, the government realised that air in the Chinese capital had to improve. The Guardian has an interesting report on how the city is cleaning up.
Extracting value
Greenpeace carried out some research with the China Association of Electronics for Technology Development that demonstrated that the value of recyclable materials in electronic devices was rising steeply, driven by increasing demand from consumers. The value of recyclable metals is projected to double between 2020 and 2030. A tonne of old mobile phones without their batteries can contain up to 270g of gold.
Other metals reclaimed from old phones and laptops can be used in other ways. They can be melted down, soldered or glued together. If you want to find out more about the potential of metal bonding adhesives, why not visit a site that stocks a large range of metal bonding adhesives with staff who can supply help and advice? Metal bonding adhesives encompass a wide array of solutions, and you want to make sure you get the right one for the job.
Electronic devices contain many useful components that can be reused in a number of ways. Developing capabilities to recycle these often-valuable components can have many benefits, leading to greater efficiency and reduced costs. Upcycling is good for the environment because it is less wasteful, and it also means less toxic waste is being dumped in landfill areas.