Gold and precious metals are to be extracted from old phones and laptops by Britain's coin-maker. The Royal Mint plans to introduce a world-first technology to the UK to recycle gold from electronic waste. Less than one fifth of electronic waste ends up being recycled, estimates show. The mint's chief executive Anne Jessopp said the technology would help to "make a genuine impact on one of the world's greatest environmental challenges". The Royal Mint has signed an agreement with Canadian start-up Excir to recover 99% and more of gold from devices' circuit boards.Researchers have estimated electronic and electrical equipment discarded in 2021 will weigh more than 57 million tonnes. If nothing is done to counter the problem, electronic waste is set to reach 74 million tonnes by 2030 - almost a doubling of tonnage in a decade, the mint said. The mint's Ms Jessopp described the potential of the technology as "huge" in its ability to reduce electronic waste, preserve precious metals, and develop new skills.
