Technology AI, Science and New Things
The Royal Mint has begun processing electronic waste to extract gold, in an attempt to reduce e-waste and save jobs. Circuit boards from phones, laptops and TVs are heated and sorted, with gold-containing elements taken to a “pioneering” industrial plant in Llantrisant, Wales, where a chemical solution dissolves the precious metal in four minutes. The nondescript brown powder left behind is pure gold, which will be turned into jewellery for the UK coin-maker’s 886 jewellery range and commemorative coins, rather than bullion blocks. But the “world-first” technology is most valuable for its impact on the environment and employment. According to a UN report, 62 million tonnes of e-waste were binned in 2022 – up 82 per cent from 2010 – and the UK is the second biggest producer of tech waste per capita, second only to Norway. The Royal Mint hopes to process 4,000 tonnes of e-waste every year – and protect jobs in the process. As cash use plummets, fewer people are needed to make coins. Diversifying to e-waste processing allows the mint to retain employees by pivoting towards “urban mining”.
