Latest news with #eWaste
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Your outdated tech might be a ‘goldmine'
In 2025, it's not uncommon for a typical household to have a drawer overflowing with discarded phones and cables. But this graveyard of circuitry isn't just a static memorial to past tech trends. For those willing to put in the effort, each of those old iPhones and micro USB cables still contains a small amount of valuable metals and minerals—including gold. Researchers estimate that a single printed circuit board can contain around 200–900 mg of gold per kilogram. The actual extraction of those precious metals from discarded tech is a labor-intensive process. Historically, it has often required the use of highly toxic chemicals like cyanide and mercury, which can be harmful both to the individuals doing the extraction and to the environment. But, researchers at Flinders University in Australia now say they've developed a new method of gold extraction and recycling that is far less hazardous and may have a lower environmental impact if scaled for production. By using a leaching reagent derived from trichloroisocyanuric acid—a sustainable compound commonly used in water disinfection—they were able to dissolve and extract gold without relying on dangerous chemicals. The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Nature Sustainability this week, demonstrate they could use their process to extract gold from e-waste, as well as used ore. 'Overall, this work provides a viable approach to achieve greener gold production from both primary and secondary resources, improving the sustainability of the gold supply,' they write in the paper. Gold has captured human attention for millennia. It backed the currency of empires, adorned countless pieces of royal jewelry, and has come to the rescue in root canals. Today, the coveted element is widely used in electronics, valued for its natural electrical conductivity, durability, and high resistance to corrosion. As a result, small amounts of gold are likely present in most of the devices found on a typical office worker's desk. And while tech companies have taken steps to extract and recycle that gold for years, much of it still ends up in landfills. The United Nations estimates that the world produced around 62 million tons of e-waste in 2022—a figure that's up 82 percent from 2010. Contamination from toxic substances used to strip gold from devices isn't the only concern. The industrial leaching process typically requires vast quantities of water, further compounding its environmental impact. Runoff from those facilities can also make their way into food supplies or local wildlife. The Flinders University researchers took a different approach. First, they developed a process using the trichloroisocyanuric acid that, when activated by salt water, effectively dissolved gold without the need for toxic substances. Next, they bound the dissolved gold to a new sulfur-rich polymer they designed themselves. The polymer was engineered to serve as a vehicle for selectively capturing gold, even in the presence of many other metals. Once the gold was extracted, the polymer could 'unmake' itself, reverting to its monomer state and leaving the gold behind. That fully separated gold could then be recycled and used again in new products. 'The aim is to provide effective gold recovery methods that support the many uses of gold, while lessening the impact on the environment and human health,' Flinders University professor and paper authorJustin Chalker said in a statement. In testing, the researchers demonstrated that their process could extract gold not only from e-waste, but also from ore concentrates and scientific waste streams. Although, the sheer volume of global e-waste makes it the most obvious candidate to benefit from this method. The researchers say they are currently working with mining and e-waste recycling companies to test the process on a larger scale. 'We dived into a mound of e-waste and climbed out with a block of gold!' Flinders University research associate and paper co-author Harshal Patel said in a statement. 'I hope this research inspires impactful solutions to pressing global challenges.' That said, everyday electronics consumers don't need to wait for this new method to scale up in order to benefit from e-waste recycling. Most major cities have certified e-waste recycling centers that accept large quantities of discarded electronics. Local scrap yards, as well as some private companies, will also pay a small amount for scrapped devices—especially those containing relatively high amounts of gold, silver, or copper. Large nonprofits like Goodwill also offer electronics recycling services. Many of these organizations handle the hard work of separating components from used devices, then sell the individual parts to industrial recyclers.
BreakingNews.ie
16-06-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Vapes and solar panels see electrical device sales surge
Vapes and solar panels have driven a 75 per cent surge in electrical device sales over the last five years, according to an e-waste recycling body. A total of 93 million household electronic items were purchased in 2024 – almost three times the volume sold in 2006, according to Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland. Advertisement Launching its 2024 annual report on Monday, WEEE said electronic items sold per year increased by 75 per cent between 2019 and 2024. Vaping devices alone accounted for a third of all units sold last year, an estimated 31 million units, while 2.5 million solar PV panels have been installed in the last five years. The country's biggest e-waste recycling scheme is calling for Ireland's 'e-waste intelligence' to develop as consumption reaches record levels, putting pressure on EU recycling targets. 'Each one of those 93 million devices contains valuable materials like aluminium, copper, lithium, cobalt,' said WEEE Ireland chief executive Leo Donovan. Advertisement WEEE Ireland collected 38,215 tonnes of e-waste last year (Conor McCabe Photography/PA) 'We're using these materials far faster than they can regenerate. Global demand is set to triple by 2050 – a trajectory that cannot be sustained. 'With over 80 per cent of the EU's rare earths coming from China, Ireland's dependence on imports leaves us dangerously exposed. We must reduce that risk by rethinking consumption, embracing circularity, and recovering more materials here at home.' Excluding vapes, consumption of electronics is still climbing – a challenge given that EU recycling targets are based on sales volumes, regardless of product life cycle or whether they can be reused. 'We are penalised for selling long-life items like solar PV panels,' said Mr Donovan. Advertisement 'Over 2.5 million panels have entered the market in the last five years, but with warranties of 15 to 20 years, they won't reach recycling centres for at least another decade. 'Yet they still count toward our annual recycling target. That's not circular thinking.' Research from WEEE Ireland also shows the proportion of households hoarding unused devices rose from 22 per cent in 2023 to 29 per cent in 2025, highlighting a massive untapped opportunity for reuse and repair. 'We need to move beyond recycling alone. Extending the life of products through repair and reuse must become the norm,' Mr Donovan said. Advertisement In 2024, WEEE Ireland collected 38,215 tonnes of e-waste. WEEE Ireland collected almost 330,000 large household appliances in 2024 (Conor McCabe Photography/PA) This included large household appliances which account for a significant share of Ireland's material recovery due to their size and resource content – almost 330,000 large household appliances, more than 119,000 fridge freezers, and 258,000 TVs and monitors. More than 1.1 million vape devices were also recovered, despite being notoriously difficult to capture due to disposal habits, with many ending up in waste bins. WEEE Ireland said it continues to work with retailers and regulators to design more effective solutions for this new category of waste. Advertisement This month, the Government allocated €27 million from the Circular Economy Fund to support further progress. 'Ireland has an engaged public and a high-performing recycling network,' said Mr Donovan. 'With increased investment in recycling centres, including longer opening hours, and strong leadership, we can set the benchmark for e-waste and circular economy solutions in Europe.'
Zawya
12-06-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Aster Volunteers UAE recycles 750 kgs of e-waste in 4th collection drive
To date, the initiative has cumulatively recycled 1,998 kgs of e-waste over the four editions. Partnered with E-Scrappy and engaged Asterians in collecting e-waste from nearby shops and homes, demonstrating community involvement and support. A similar activity has been initiated across Qatar, Oman, KSA and India. UAE: Aster Volunteers UAE, the global CSR arm of Aster DM Healthcare, recently organized an impactful 4th E-Waste Collection Drive as part of the 'Aster Green Choices initiative', reinforcing Aster DM Healthcare's unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability. Collection boxes were strategically placed in nine Aster units across the UAE, including Aster Jubilee Medical Centre Bur Dubai, Aster Hospital Mankhool, Aster Hospital Qusais, Aster Hospital Sharjah, Medcare Orthopedics and Spine Hospital, Medcare Al Safa, Aster Clinic Al Warqa, Aster Corporate Office Al Diyafah, Aster Retail Warehouse – Dubai Investment Park, and Aster Cedars Hospital & Clinic, Jebel Ali. Additionally, Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital Qusais and Medcare Hospital Sharjah supported the initiative by contributing some e-waste. The drive resulted in the recycling of 750 kgs of e-waste in collaboration with E-Scrappy. To date, the initiative has cumulatively recycled 1,998 kgs of e-waste over the four editions. The drive not only highlighted the importance of proper e-waste disposal but also educated the public on the environmental impact of electronic waste, encouraging more sustainable practices across the UAE. Over the years, the initiative has successfully recycled 496 kgs of e-waste in 2020, 318 kgs in 2023, 434 kgs in 2024 and now 750 kgs in 2025. Asterians from various units played a crucial role by collecting e-waste from nearby shops and bringing electronic waste from their homes to designated collection boxes. The collected e-waste was responsibly recycled by E-scrappy, who issued a Green Certificate to Aster Volunteers UAE, underscoring their commitment to environmental management. Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman, Aster DM Healthcare, commented on the initiative, stating, 'Our commitment to environmental sustainability continues to be a core pillar of Aster's mission, guided by our ESG framework and alignment with 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Aligned with the spirit of World Environment Day, with each edition of the E-Waste Collection Drive, we build greater awareness about the importance of responsible e-waste disposal and foster a culture of recycling within our communities. The success and continued growth of this initiative reaffirm our belief that collective action can drive meaningful environmental impact. Alongside efforts like tree plantations, indoor and seed plant distributions, and clean-up drives, the E-Waste Collection Drive reflects our enduring dedication to a greener, more sustainable future.' The E-Waste Collection Drive is part of Aster DM Healthcare's broader environmental sustainability strategy, which includes other countries like Qatar, KSA, Oman, and India. The company's long-term goals focus on mitigating the environmental impact of toxins leached from buried metals, ensuring the proper disposal and recycling of e-waste. Over the last few years, Aster Volunteers has emerged into a global movement driven by over 85,000 volunteers who have impacted over 6.5 million lives. Aster DM Healthcare GCC achieved a significant reduction of 541 tCO2e in net greenhouse gas emissions through the integration of solar energy sources, including 1,340,000 KWh of solar energy as on 31st March 2024. The company also excelled in waste management, recycling 64,871 kilograms of waste, including 3,992 kilograms of plastic waste, 2,835 kilograms of paper waste, and 434 kilograms of e-waste. The organization prioritizes waste segregation at the source, enabling efficient recycling of biomedical, plastic, food, metals, paper, and cardboard waste. Aster's Annual ESG Report for FY 23-24 highlighted a reduction of 1,769 KL in water consumption across nine hospitals. Social initiatives under Aster Volunteers have significantly contributed to community health, disaster aid, and social empowerment programs. Aster DM Healthcare, one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the GCC, has received three prestigious awards from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Arabia CSR Awards for its sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and community initiatives. Recognized with the 'Advanced CSR Label for 2022' by the Dubai Chamber, Aster has excelled in Workplace, Marketplace, Community, and Environment impact areas for four consecutive years. The company integrates 10 UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) into its ESG policies through initiatives like Aster Volunteers, impacting communities globally. Aster also signed the Action Declaration on Climate Policy Engagement at COP27 and was the only Middle Eastern and Indian company listed among Corporate Knights' Global 100 sustainable companies for 2022, showcasing its commitment to building sustainable organizations. Looking ahead, Aster DM Healthcare aims to continue its commitment to environmental sustainability by organizing more e-waste collection drives and other green initiatives. The organization's long-term goals include reducing carbon emissions, increasing the use of renewable energy, and promoting sustainable practices across all its operations. About Aster Volunteers, the global CSR programme of Aster DM Healthcare Launched in 2017, Aster Volunteers serves as the global CSR arm of Aster DM Healthcare. This initiative embodies the spirit of giving back to society and has touched the lives of over 6.5 million people through various programs with more than 85,000 registered volunteers. Key activities include disaster relief efforts, mobile medical services, free or subsidized surgeries for the needy, medical camps, blood donation drives, and health awareness campaigns. Aster Volunteers focuses on sustainable and impactful solutions, particularly in women's empowerment, education, and social upliftment. For more information about us, please contact:
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CA Green Technology Initiative launches, bridging digital divide
( — The California Green Technology Initiative officially launched Monday morning in West Sacramento. The program looks to reduce e-waste and provides technology to Californians in need. The California Emerging Technology Fund kicked off the initiative at West Sacramento City Hall. The initiative will collect unwanted technology devices, refurbish them, and get them into the hands of residents who need them most. 'In the world of a digital era, and especially knowing that so many services these days are expected to be delivered digitally, we in the State of California felt that level of responsibility to make sure that we're doing everything that we could,' said Amy Tong, Senior Counselor to Governor Gavin Newsom. The goal of the California Green Technology Initiative is to reduce e-waste by repurposing old tech and distributing refurbished devices. 'The hope and the vision has been we're going to get everybody online in California. We have performance metrics where our goal in the next five years to get 99% of all Californians online,' said Sunne McPeak, President and CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund. 'It's pretty significant,' said West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero. Mayor Guerrero says many local families lack reliable, affordable internet access. 'We just have a lot of children who don't have access to the internet, including their families for work, and our elderly for those that need to get access to their medical services,' she said. 'What we continue to need to do is to establish affordable internet service here in West Sacramento.' The initiative does just that, working with local and state non-profits to provide free or low-cost devices to low-income households. McPeak says the program is targeting California's digital divide. 'Average in california, 91% of all households are online. For low income households, it's 84% of all households. So that gap between the average and any other segment of our population is called a divide,' she said. That gap is caused by barriers like poverty, language, and age. The initiative addresses those challenges not just through tech devices but also with digital literacy classes and support services. Technology is really only a tool. What gives it power is when people know how to use it. Sunne McPeak, President and CEO of California Emerging Technology Fund It's also a big win for the environment by reducing e-waste, while opening doors for residents across the state. 'They can save time, they can save money, the kids can do their homework at home. We can all connect to our doctor online if we want to. We can apply for a job, get a better job. That is our goal,' McPeak said. Here in Sacramento, Computers 4 Kids is the regional partner that's refurbishing devices and offering digital literacy classes. For more information on how to take advantage of this program, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Fires linked to lithium batteries have doubled. Why the delay in dealing with them?
Toxic smoke from the Abilities Group fire Photo: Supplied / Geordie Winlove Why is New Zealand plagued with fires involving lithium-ion batteries, and what's happened to product stewardship regulations for e-waste, including the lithium-ion batteries within laptops and mobile phones? In mid April, the Abilities Group recycling premises on Auckland's North Shore was engulfed in flames. Fire and emergency staff battled the blaze overnight. At one point two firefighters were stranded 10 to 15 metres mid-air when their truck malfunctioned, leaving them stuck in the basket at the top of the ladder, getting showered with burning embers. Neighbours of the suburban recycling centre were told to stay inside and close their windows to avoid toxic clouds of smoke. Two nearby beaches were closed due to potential toxic run-off contaminating the sea. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but speculation from a Fire and Emergency staff member was the culprit could be lithium-ion batteries. Two weeks later a fire broke out in a scrapyard in the Auckland suburb of Ōtara. Again, lithium-ion batteries were suspected. Until investigations are complete, we can't say for sure lithium-ion batteries caused the blazes. However, data collated by Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) suggests the number of fires caused by these have more than doubled since 2020 growing from 51 in 2020 to 120 in 2024. So far this year 42 fires have been related to batteries The increase is due to the proliferation of the batteries, which are often found in devices which can be charged, such as mobile phones and laptops. They are also used in power banks, vapes, e-scooters, e-bikes and power tools. If damaged, defective or used incorrectly, these batteries can overheat, catch fire, and even explode. They're so combustible outdoor survival expert Bear Grylls used the battery from a waterlogged phone on his television show to start a fire. "As soon as I cut into the battery, that's going to expose the lithium to the oxygen and that mix of spark heat and oxygen is going to create fire," he tells the audience. A few cuts later white smoke jets out of the battery, and the handful of tinder he's prepared bursts into flames. This propensity for rapid combustion means batteries thrown in with regular rubbish, then later crushed or damaged, can become flashpoints for infernos. This is why fires at scrap yards and inside rubbish trucks have become more commonplace. Keeping batteries out of places where they're likely to get damaged - like landfill or scrap yards - is one way to reduce fires. There's a push to make producers take more responsibility for the products they create, especially when the disposal can cause issues. This might mean educating the public on battery disposal and ensuring there are enough convenient places to stop the batteries ending up in rubbish bins, and a process to safely store, transport and recycle the returned batteries. In some cases companies voluntarily opt to provide the public with options for returning goods when they reach their end of life, but in 2020 moves were made to make schemes compulsory for a range of problematic items. E-waste joined tyres, refrigerants and synthetic gases, farm plastics and agrichemical containers, plastic packaging and larger batteries, such as electric car batteries as priority products for the government. This meant regulated schemes would be set up under New Zealand's Waste Minimisation Act . The act requires product stewardship schemes be set up "as soon as practicable" for priority products, but doesn't give a deadline. To date, only one of the six priority products - tyres - has a regulated scheme in place. The Tyrewise scheme became operational September 2024. Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds told RNZ farm plastics and agrichemical containers were the current focus for the government. "I intend to progress schemes in a measured way to ensure they are well-considered and cost-of-living impacts are limited." She said there are no confirmed dates relating to the e-waste scheme. "The Ministry for the Environment is working with industry and stakeholders on the next steps. I have asked officials to keep me updated on progress, acknowledging that any proposed plan will require time to determine the next steps." Simmonds said the e-waste stewardship scheme hasn't stalled, but it's fair to say some confusion surrounds its current status. Members of a working group who were part of a e-waste product stewardship scheme design project, led by non-profit TechCollect, told RNZ they hadn't been updated since a report was submitted to the Ministry for the Environment in June 2023. "We never really got clear answers about why it wasn't progressing," said Kahurangi Carter. She's a Green party MP now, but at the time she was involved with the working group as a representative of Para Kore, a recycling and waste group with a focus on marae. She was one of 14 group members. Other working group members contacted by RNZ were also unaware of whether anything had happened since the report was submitted. "I'm not sure what happened to it," said Karen Driver, from the Zero Waste Network Aotearoa. Tim Findlay, former owner of Remarkit, a company which repurposed e-waste, said he has no idea what happened since the report was submitted. "I'm not sure what goes on behind the scenes," he said. "Certainly a lot of time and effort went into this latest paper." The paper Findlay was referring to was the 109 page report. It was headed up by not-for-profit TechCollect, who received $320,000 from a Waste Minimisation Fund to lead the design stage of a e-waste product stewardship scheme. TechCollect's head of operations Michael Dudley said the scheme didn't stall after the report was submitted to the Ministry for the Environment in 2023. "Good things do take time, and it has moved at a glacial speed, I suppose, but you know, that's the nature of product stewardship. It is a slow burn and it's important to get the foundations right from the outset." TechCollect spent just over a year completing further work and lodged an application to the Ministry for the Environment to be accredited to run the scheme. "We're in the midst of the assessment process at the moment, and it's an up to 16 week assessment process. So the ball is certainly in the Ministry's court for now," Dudley said. If the ministry's assessment is completed by July and TechCollect receives accreditation, Dudley expects the scheme could be up and running by July 2026. A pilot programme has been running for seven years as a voluntary scheme involving some of TechCollect's members, including well-known brands such as HP, Canon, Dell, and the Warehouse Group. The pilot programme has 39 collection points nationwide where people can drop e-waste free-of-charge. The waste is broken down into different components for reuse and recycling by partners TechCollect works with. Lithium-ion batteries are shipped offshore as there is no infrastructure to recycle them domestically. Dudley said only a "handful" of brands contribute to the voluntary scheme. "It would be fantastic if I had all of the sector and the members supporting us, because we could achieve such a larger scale. I've been having conversations with the sector for the last seven years, and our member base remains the same size that it is. Without regulatory intervention and unfortunately a stick, I don't think you're going to see all of the sector come and do the right thing, organically or voluntarily." If the recommendations in the report are implemented, it would mean a levy would be placed on all electronic products which are manufactured or imported to New Zealand. Dudley wasn't able to give an exact number for what the levy might be, saying the price would be dependent on how much material needed to be recycled. For the Tyrewise scheme the levy is based on the type and weight of tyre. A 9.5kg passenger car tyre has a levy of $6.65 plus gst. The money raised by the levy is used to cover the cost of recycling the product at the end of its life. Dudley described levy setting as a balancing act and said TechCollect has recommended frequent reviews of the levy to ensure it is not too high, or too low. Another member of the working group, Laurence Zwimpfer from the eDay New Zealand Trust, has spent decades trying to get a scheme underway. He said in 2006 he wrote a report for the Ministry for the Environment highlighting the need for a system to deal with e-waste. "We thought it would take six months. Now it's nearly 20 years and we still don't have anything in place." He said lithium-ion battery fires are a consequence of not having something in place. He was a little forlorn when he recently received yet another consultation document, this time asking about extended producer responsibility (EPR) rather than product stewardship. "It starts off: Do you support the proposal for a modern EPR framework?" The consultation is related to the government's work on proposed amendments to the Waste Minimisation Act. One of the key changes which are proposed is changing the product stewardship provisions with extended producer responsibility provisions. Zwimpfer explained the two terms are often used interchangeably, with EPR having more focus on producers paying for recycling, and product stewardship sometimes being more collaborative with community groups, or local authorities being involved in some way. "It's an insult to people that have been involved for 20 years in this process to now go back to say: Do people think this is a good idea?" He worries this new amendment might mean more delays to a formalised scheme. "We're waiting for government, really, and nothing's changed since 2008 when we told them that in 2008 that's still our position. We've got businesses to run. We can't spend all our day sitting around the table, going round and round in circles." Dudley sounds enthusiastic about the prospect of a scheme with a government "stick" behind it in the form of regulations. If TechCollect is successful he believes the public will see an increase in drop-off points from the current 39 to approximately 300. The need for recycling would be communicated with a nation-wide campaign. He said it's his understanding that applications already lodged would continue to be assessed under the current legislation, but he's also confident it meets objectives of an EPR focussed scheme. "We cannot kick the can down the road any further or delay. We've got the solution. We've got the goodwill of industry. Let's not waste it." Fire and Emergency New Zealand's community and education manager Tom Ronaldson said lithium-ion batteries should never be thrown out in the household rubbish and should be taken to a collection facility or a transfer station. These facilities, either run by councils or private entities can be found on a map created by WastMINZ. He urged people to only charge batteries when they are at home and awake and to avoid over-charging devices. "The toxic chemicals produced during a lithium-ion battery fire are harmful to people, so if a battery catches fire or makes unusual sounds like cracking or clicking, leave it immediately and call 111."
