Valuable Metals in E-Waste

E-waste represents a large, yet largely untapped market for metals.

  • It is estimated that the value of metals contained in all e-waste generated globally in 2019 was ~$57.5 billion, of which gold accounted for ~$9.5 billion (16.5%) (1)

  • E-waste can have a higher concentration of gold than even the highest-grade gold mines

    • A tonne of old cell phones contains ~350 grams of gold versus the highest-grade gold mine in the world at 22.1 grams per tonne (2)

Sources: (1) The Global E-waste Monitor 2020 (United Nations University). (2) “From E-Waste to Gold Dust,” Worcester Polytechnic Institute, January 20, 2017 and “Richest Gold Mines in the World,” KITCO, August 11, 2020.

Samantha Penn