Computer Gold Recycling
We all know how important recycling is these days, and while most of us understand the need to recycle our plastic, glass and paper, not everyone is aware about the need to recycle our metals as well. Computers are a prime example of a widely used household product that can and should be recycled because of the minerals it contains, such as lead and gold. This is especially true for older computers.
Considerations
Gold is one of the most sought-after metals found in a computer's printed wiring boards, in addition to silver and copper. However, there are also relatively hazardous metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, and this complicates the process. A key hindrance to computer gold recycling is the dollar value. The process of retrieving and recycling these metals is a complex business, and until recently cost about $200 per computer, whereas the value of the recycled materials amounts to about $30.
Components
To recycle the gold on your computer, you must dismantle and take it apart to access its recyclable, metal components such as the circuit boards and chips. Take these metal components to a recycling plant, which will typically pay you for them.
Remember that yours is not the only computer that needs to be recycled. There are many people who have unwanted, discarded computers that they do not know recycle, let alone get rid of.
Amounts
There is only a very small amount of gold in your computer. In fact, it takes 80 computers to yield a single gram of gold. For this reason, the process of computer gold recycling is cost-prohibitive for an individual. It is also not worth the effort of recycling the gold from a single personal computer.
Benefits
The safe retrieval of gold and other valuable metals makes computer gold recycling a worthy pursuit from an environmental point of view. The mining of gold has been described as one of the most polluting of activities in the world, and for this reason many environmentalists will not wear gold wedding bands or other gold ornaments. They will, however, wear those made of recycled gold, even if they have to pay a premium for it. The most significant benefit, however, remains the prevention of huge numbers of computers being dumped in landfill ever year.
Innovations
Recovering gold from computers has, until recently, not been economically viable, but new technologies have changed this situation. The gold itself is in the form of gold plating, another factor that makes its removal complicated. While not all recyclers have the advanced technology to deal with this, more are getting into the business. Recycled gold now constitutes 25 percent of world supply of this metal.
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