THE MARKET FOR ELECTRONIC SCRAP
End-of-life electronic scrap, obsolete electronic devices and residues from the various manufacturing stages represent an above-ground mine, contributing to the global needs for precious metals, copper, tin and various special metals and materials. The market, especially in end-of-life products, is big and growing fast. But, it is also very complex and heterogeneous. The lifetime of electronic equipment ranges from one year to over 20 years.
The material composition of the different categories of electronic equipment varies extremely. It also can change rapidly within one category over the time. Furthermore, new products will be on sale tomorrow that we even cannot imagine today.
Few materials of "high" intrinsic value make recycling economical viable in itself, but for the majority recycling is a means of preventing harm to the environment and at least recovering what is there to be had.
International import/export streams of new devices, used material as well as of scrap
Reuse of today = recycling for tomorrow. We have to make sure that reuse in countries with no proper recycling policy does not imply that equipment doesn't get recycled by environmentally sound means when it becomes obsolete after its second, third, ... life
This all requires dedicated recycling specialists cooperating in a distinct share of labour, cost-efficient, flexible processes with continuous innovation and high environmental standards - as well as companies that act responsibly. Umicore is very well placed in this context and offers its services to all relevant stakeholders and market segments.