The waste that has been accumulating in landfills for decades could become an important raw material in the future. And it is that you do not have to disgust the garbage, especially if it iselectronic trash, that is, from mobile phones, printers, keyboards, televisions, refrigerators, washing machines and other appliances. According to calculations by the United Nations (UN), every year they are generated around the world40 million tons of “scrap” that houses precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum or palladium. For example, a ton of computers contains between 200 and 300 grams of gold. In China alone, 4 tons of gold, 28 tons of silver and 6,000 tons of copper are lost each year among mountains of waste, according to estimates by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). And the pace could increase because, at the same breakneck speed that new technological advances appear, others become obsolete.
In addition, taking into account that the deposits ofIndian, the soft metal most used for the production of liquid crystal displays (LCD) and touch screens, will be exhausted at the latest in a decade, officials of the Japanese and American industry have already announced that they will go out to “fish” these materials in landfills. The same is starting to happen with himmanganese, a rare metal used as a component in batteries that is 90% mined in South Africa. Or with himtantalumused in the manufacture of chips for mobile phones. And even with himnickelwhich is used to produce stainless steel. There is no doubt that the so-called“urban mining”it will become a new (and lucrative) business opportunity.
