Apple, Inc. announced in its “Environmental Responsibility Report” for 2016, that last year they recovered over 2,204 pounds of gold at a market price of approximately $40 million. That’s more than a tonne of gold from recycling broken products.
Electronic components, especially those found in computational electronics, depend heavily on gold because it’s both non-corrosive (on a higher level than silver and copper) and a great energy conductor. Every time a cellphone, laptop, smartwatch or PC goes into a landfill all of its precious metals and resources get buried, which increases the need to continue to rip those materials from the Earth via mining.
Telecoms, networking and data equipment is no different. The majority of items including mainframes, masts, cabinets, base stations and peripherals can be recycled, and significant value recovered from the precious metals and other material contained within. As Apple has demonstrated, e-waste recycling programs not only divert waste from landfill sites, reducing harm to the environment, they can also generate huge revenues.
As Europe’s leading telecoms recycler TXO Systems ensure secure, safe and ethical recycling and disposal with full Waste Electrical and Electronic (WEEE) reporting and compliance. Learn more about TXO’s WEEE recycling services.