How Scrappers Cash In On Gold From Your Old Computer | World Wide Waste | Business Insider

Summary

This video explores the growing trend of solo recyclers tackling the global e-waste problem by safely extracting valuable metals from discarded electronics. Dumpster diver Wade Cawley collects and recycles e-waste to prevent it from ending up in landfills, partnering with startups like Mint Innovation, which uses eco-friendly methods to recover metals like gold and copper. The video highlights the economic potential of e-scrapping, the environmental benefits of domestic recycling, and the dangers of unregulated e-waste processing in developing countries.

Takeaways

• 📦 E-waste contains valuable materials, estimated at $60 billion annually.
• 💡 Precious metals like palladium, tantalum, and gold can be found in electronics.
• 🛠 Some individuals recycle e-waste at home to avoid unsafe methods used elsewhere.
• 🌍 Wade Cawley is a recycler aiming to keep electronics out of landfills.
• 🔧 E-scrappers use various tools, from drills to electric garden pruners, to break down devices.
• ⚠️ Handling e-waste carries risks, such as exposure to hazardous materials like mercury.
• 💰 Mint Innovation processes e-waste using microbes and fungi to extract valuable metals.
• 💸 Small e-waste recyclers may struggle financially, with profits often minimal without heavy-duty equipment.
• 🚛 E-waste recycling is expanding, but much of it still ends up being exported to poorer nations like India.
• 🏭 Companies like Mint are creating sustainable, automated solutions to safely extract precious metals from e-waste.

Q & A

What is the estimated value of materials found in e-waste every year?

The materials inside electronics thrown out every year are worth an estimated $60 billion.

What types of valuable metals are commonly found in e-waste?

Common valuable metals found in e-waste include palladium, tantalum, tin, lead, steel, copper, silver, and gold.

What methods are traditionally used to extract precious metals from e-waste?

Traditional methods for extracting precious metals from e-waste include brute force or powerful acid baths.

What is Wade Cawley's mission in handling e-waste?

Wade Cawley is on a mission to keep electronics out of landfills by recycling e-waste domestically instead of exporting it overseas.

How does Wade safely handle e-waste, and what precautions does he take?

Wade works alone, using drills, screwdrivers, and repurposed garden pruners to break down tech. He takes precautions like wearing a respirator when handling materials like fluorescent tubes, which contain mercury.

How much e-waste is formally collected in Australia and the US?

In Australia, only about 9% of e-waste is formally collected, while in the US, the figure is around 15%.

What challenges do solo scrappers like Wade face in making a living from e-waste recycling?

Solo scrappers face challenges such as low margins, requiring significant investment in heavy-duty equipment to make the work profitable. For many, it's a side hustle rather than a full-time business.

What are the health risks associated with informal e-waste recycling?

Informal e-waste recycling, often done by scavengers without proper safety equipment, can lead to health problems such as stunted growth, miscarriages, organ damage, and bone density loss due to toxic exposure.

How does the company Mint Innovation recover metals from e-waste?

Mint Innovation uses a process that involves grinding circuit boards and running them through a liquid bath of bacteria, fungi, and organic materials to extract metals like copper, silver, palladium, and gold.

What is the environmental advantage of Mint Innovation's recycling process?

Mint Innovation's process has a smaller environmental footprint compared to other recycling methods. It creates a closed-loop system where no harmful chemical waste is produced, and the by-products are benign.