{ "schemaVersion": 1, "id": "waste-pcb-metal-content-2020", "version": "1.0", "title": "Waste Circuit Boards and Strategic Metals", "subtitle": "From metal content to secondary supply, 2020–2026", "url": "/research/waste-pcb-metal-content-2020/", "reviewedAt": "2026-10-03", "scope": "A strategic resource intelligence assessment reviewed on 3 October 2026. Original measurements describe seven Croatian waste-PCB sample groups and selected separated fractions. Contemporary evidence retains its measurement years and policy scope. This record does not establish a global board grade, a commercial recovery yield, a current shipment approval or available refinery inventory.", "standfirst": "Discarded electronics contain strategically useful metals. This 2020 study shows how the measured content changes with equipment type, separated components and particle size. The supply-security question is who can collect, process and deliver that material as a usable industrial input.", "assessment": "Follow the metal through collection, separation, refining and delivery. A rich circuit-board assay identifies a feedstock opportunity. Its contribution to resilience depends on accessible waste flows, accountable material balances, operating processing capacity and a buyer able to use the output.", "report": { "title": "Determining Metal Content in Waste Printed Circuit Boards and their Electronic Components", "author": "Aleksandra Anić-Vučinić, Gordan Bedeković, Renato Šarc and Vitomir Premur", "publisher": "Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems · SDEWES Centre", "documentId": "DOI 10.13044/j.sdewes.d7.0312", "publishedAt": "2020-09", "setting": "Croatian waste-PCB samples; equipment generations defined in the study", "sourceId": "pcb-study-2020", "catalogUrl": "https://www.sdewes.org/jsdewes/pid7.0312", "catalogLabel": "Read the publisher’s article record ↗", "readPdfPage": 1, "pdfPages": 13, "sha256": "bd74901cbcf5eb75966579ebd047cc0356780a5a1c12b528ab0e9d422393249c", "summary": "The authors characterize metals in waste circuit boards from phones, computers and televisions. They compare whole-board content, separated components and bare boards, then examine four particle-size fractions. The results support feedstock sorting and process investigation; they leave commercial recovery and delivered supply to be demonstrated.", "caution": "Published in the September 2020 issue, volume 8(3), pages 590–602; accepted 16 October 2019. “Newer phones” means smartphones made after 2008 in this sample classification. These are historical laboratory measurements, with no reported industrial recovery trial or representative assay for present-day devices.", "locators": [ { "label": "Literature comparison", "pdfPage": 2, "printed": "591" }, { "label": "Sampling and laboratory method", "pdfPage": 3, "printed": "592–594" }, { "label": "Whole boards and separated fractions · Tables 2–3", "pdfPage": 7, "printed": "596" }, { "label": "Particle-size measurements · Tables 4–5", "pdfPage": 8, "printed": "597–598" }, { "label": "Conclusions", "pdfPage": 10, "printed": "599–600" } ] }, "datasets": [ { "id": "whole-boards", "title": "Whole-PCB assays", "columns": [ { "key": "aluminium", "label": "Aluminium", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "copper", "label": "Copper", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "nickel", "label": "Nickel", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "lead", "label": "Lead", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "tin", "label": "Tin", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "zinc", "label": "Zinc", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "silver", "label": "Silver", "unit": "g/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "gold", "label": "Gold", "unit": "g/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "palladium", "label": "Palladium", "unit": "g/t", "precision": 2 } ], "rows": [ { "id": "cp-old", "label": "Older phones · CP OLD", "aluminium": 22.81, "copper": 293.72, "nickel": 27.61, "lead": 17.78, "tin": 17.92, "zinc": 13.8, "silver": 331.47, "gold": 723.96, "palladium": 0 }, { "id": "cp-new", "label": "Newer phones · CP NEW", "aluminium": 29.48, "copper": 428.46, "nickel": 31.34, "lead": 7.32, "tin": 26.39, "zinc": 9.38, "silver": 320.1, "gold": 1071.35, "palladium": 61.7 }, { "id": "c-old", "label": "Older computers · C OLD", "aluminium": 40.17, "copper": 179.53, "nickel": 4.94, "lead": 16.02, "tin": 24.24, "zinc": 14.62, "silver": 171.05, "gold": 125.3, "palladium": 31.49 }, { "id": "c-new", "label": "Newer computers · C NEW", "aluminium": 43.38, "copper": 261.46, "nickel": 8.99, "lead": 17.45, "tin": 23.04, "zinc": 38, "silver": 330.22, "gold": 147.3, "palladium": 5.98 }, { "id": "crt", "label": "CRT televisions · CRT", "aluminium": 48.41, "copper": 84.08, "nickel": 14.22, "lead": 13.23, "tin": 8.33, "zinc": 14.64, "silver": 223.81, "gold": 63.86, "palladium": 0 }, { "id": "lcd-csp", "label": "LCD signal processing · LCD CSP", "aluminium": 42.98, "copper": 264.9, "nickel": 8.69, "lead": 12.97, "tin": 8.48, "zinc": 11.63, "silver": 321.43, "gold": 143.76, "palladium": 7.53 }, { "id": "lcd-sr", "label": "LCD signal reception · LCD SR", "aluminium": 76.47, "copper": 190.2, "nickel": 8.99, "lead": 14.24, "tin": 10.87, "zinc": 18.39, "silver": 225.34, "gold": 62.9, "palladium": 25.99 } ], "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ], "locator": "Table 2 · printed 596 / PDF 7", "basis": "Per metric tonne of the sampled circuit boards, including their electronic components. Values are reported metal content, not metal recovered or content per tonne of complete devices." }, { "id": "separated-parts", "title": "Components and bare-board assays", "columns": [ { "key": "fractionMass", "label": "Board mass share", "unit": "%", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "aluminium", "label": "Aluminium", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "copper", "label": "Copper", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "nickel", "label": "Nickel", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "lead", "label": "Lead", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "tin", "label": "Tin", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "zinc", "label": "Zinc", "unit": "kg/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "silver", "label": "Silver", "unit": "g/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "gold", "label": "Gold", "unit": "g/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "palladium", "label": "Palladium", "unit": "g/t", "precision": 2 } ], "rows": [ { "id": "c-old-e", "group": "c-old", "groupLabel": "Older computers", "part": "E", "label": "Older computers · components (E)", "fractionMass": 55.71, "aluminium": 46.43, "copper": 201.44, "nickel": 5.79, "lead": 12.52, "tin": 18.44, "zinc": 25.58, "silver": 184.99, "gold": 197.21, "palladium": 49.17 }, { "id": "c-old-b", "group": "c-old", "groupLabel": "Older computers", "part": "B", "label": "Older computers · base plate (B)", "fractionMass": 44.29, "aluminium": 32.29, "copper": 151.97, "nickel": 3.88, "lead": 20.43, "tin": 31.53, "zinc": 0.83, "silver": 153.53, "gold": 34.86, "palladium": 9.25 }, { "id": "c-new-e", "group": "c-new", "groupLabel": "Newer computers", "part": "E", "label": "Newer computers · components (E)", "fractionMass": 59.95, "aluminium": 47.99, "copper": 304.87, "nickel": 11.44, "lead": 12.83, "tin": 11.45, "zinc": 60.88, "silver": 340.11, "gold": 229.17, "palladium": 2.72 }, { "id": "c-new-b", "group": "c-new", "groupLabel": "Newer computers", "part": "B", "label": "Newer computers · base plate (B)", "fractionMass": 40.05, "aluminium": 36.48, "copper": 196.48, "nickel": 5.33, "lead": 24.36, "tin": 40.38, "zinc": 3.74, "silver": 315.4, "gold": 24.75, "palladium": 10.87 }, { "id": "crt-e", "group": "crt", "groupLabel": "CRT televisions", "part": "E", "label": "CRT televisions · components (E)", "fractionMass": 85.77, "aluminium": 54.02, "copper": 89.16, "nickel": 14.28, "lead": 12.16, "tin": 6.89, "zinc": 16.67, "silver": 238.52, "gold": 70.76, "palladium": 0 }, { "id": "crt-b", "group": "crt", "groupLabel": "CRT televisions", "part": "B", "label": "CRT televisions · base plate (B)", "fractionMass": 14.23, "aluminium": 14.64, "copper": 53.52, "nickel": 13.84, "lead": 19.67, "tin": 17.01, "zinc": 2.45, "silver": 135.2, "gold": 22.25, "palladium": 0 }, { "id": "lcd-csp-e", "group": "lcd-csp", "groupLabel": "LCD signal processing", "part": "E", "label": "LCD signal processing · components (E)", "fractionMass": 50.85, "aluminium": 63.15, "copper": 331.33, "nickel": 10.3, "lead": 11.03, "tin": 7.56, "zinc": 20.17, "silver": 350.04, "gold": 262.19, "palladium": 5.88 }, { "id": "lcd-csp-b", "group": "lcd-csp", "groupLabel": "LCD signal processing", "part": "B", "label": "LCD signal processing · base plate (B)", "fractionMass": 49.15, "aluminium": 22.12, "copper": 196.16, "nickel": 7.03, "lead": 14.99, "tin": 9.43, "zinc": 2.8, "silver": 291.83, "gold": 21.23, "palladium": 9.22 }, { "id": "lcd-sr-e", "group": "lcd-sr", "groupLabel": "LCD signal reception", "part": "E", "label": "LCD signal reception · components (E)", "fractionMass": 64.97, "aluminium": 101.53, "copper": 196.57, "nickel": 9.08, "lead": 12.3, "tin": 8.29, "zinc": 27.63, "silver": 215.06, "gold": 87.79, "palladium": 18.37 }, { "id": "lcd-sr-b", "group": "lcd-sr", "groupLabel": "LCD signal reception", "part": "B", "label": "LCD signal reception · base plate (B)", "fractionMass": 35.03, "aluminium": 30, "copper": 178.4, "nickel": 8.82, "lead": 17.85, "tin": 15.66, "zinc": 1.26, "silver": 244.41, "gold": 16.75, "palladium": 40.14 } ], "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ], "locator": "Table 3 · printed 596 / PDF 7", "basis": "E = removed electronic components; B = remaining bare base plate. Each assay is per tonne of that fraction. Mass shares are percentages of the original board assembly." }, { "id": "grain-size", "title": "Particle-size examples", "columns": [ { "key": "computerMass", "label": "Older computer components · mass share", "unit": "%", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "computerGold", "label": "Older computer components · gold assay", "unit": "g/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "phoneMass", "label": "Newer phone boards · mass share", "unit": "%", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "phoneGold", "label": "Newer phone boards · gold assay", "unit": "g/t", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "computerGoldShare", "label": "Older computer components · share of contained gold", "unit": "%", "precision": 2 }, { "key": "phoneGoldShare", "label": "Newer phone boards · share of contained gold", "unit": "%", "precision": 2 } ], "rows": [ { "id": "large", "label": "1–4 mm", "computerMass": 73.47, "computerGold": 154.4, "phoneMass": 41.03, "phoneGold": 1726, "computerGoldShare": 57.51441971357193, "phoneGoldShare": 66.10191719303904 }, { "id": "medium", "label": "0.5–1 mm", "computerMass": 13.02, "computerGold": 254.15, "phoneMass": 20.28, "phoneGold": 727, "computerGoldShare": 16.77723952112385, "phoneGoldShare": 13.761764097245111 }, { "id": "small", "label": "0.1–0.5 mm", "computerMass": 9.6, "computerGold": 235.95, "phoneMass": 30.27, "phoneGold": 501, "computerGoldShare": 11.484461105128917, "phoneGoldShare": 14.155391792147103 }, { "id": "fine", "label": "< 0.1 mm", "computerMass": 3.91, "computerGold": 717.5, "phoneMass": 8.42, "phoneGold": 761, "computerGoldShare": 14.22387966017531, "phoneGoldShare": 5.980926917568736 } ], "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ], "locator": "Table 4 · printed 597 / PDF 8", "basis": "C OLD(E) is separated older-computer components; CP NEW is integral newer-phone boards. Assays are per tonne of each size fraction. Contained-gold shares are calculated from published mass shares and assays, without a recovery factor." } ], "charts": [ { "id": "board-silver", "datasetId": "whole-boards", "title": "Silver content by board type", "description": "Seven sample groups · each bar is g of silver per tonne of circuit boards. The phone generations do not show a universal increase.", "unit": "g/t", "maximum": 400, "precision": 2, "series": [ { "key": "silver", "label": "Silver", "color": "#e26c65" } ] }, { "id": "board-gold", "datasetId": "whole-boards", "title": "Gold content by board type", "description": "The newer-phone sample has the highest published Table 2 gold assay. All bars use the same zero-based scale.", "unit": "g/t", "maximum": 1200, "precision": 2, "series": [ { "key": "gold", "label": "Gold", "color": "#e26c65" } ] }, { "id": "board-copper", "datasetId": "whole-boards", "title": "Copper content by board type", "description": "Copper is reported in kg/t, separately from precious metals in g/t. This panel has its own scale.", "unit": "kg/t", "maximum": 500, "precision": 2, "series": [ { "key": "copper", "label": "Copper", "color": "#e26c65" } ] }, { "id": "part-silver", "datasetId": "separated-parts", "title": "Where silver sits within the board", "description": "Concentration per tonne of each separated fraction. Signal-reception base plates have more silver per tonne than their components.", "unit": "g/t", "maximum": 400, "precision": 2, "series": [ { "key": "silver", "label": "Components", "color": "#e26c65", "filter": { "field": "part", "value": "E" } }, { "key": "silver", "label": "Base plate", "color": "#aab6bf", "filter": { "field": "part", "value": "B" } } ], "groupBy": "group" }, { "id": "part-gold", "datasetId": "separated-parts", "title": "Where gold sits within the board", "description": "Gold concentration is higher in components for all five separated groups. Assays must be weighted by fraction mass to reconstruct a whole board.", "unit": "g/t", "maximum": 300, "precision": 2, "series": [ { "key": "gold", "label": "Components", "color": "#e26c65", "filter": { "field": "part", "value": "E" } }, { "key": "gold", "label": "Base plate", "color": "#aab6bf", "filter": { "field": "part", "value": "B" } } ], "groupBy": "group" }, { "id": "grain-gold-grade", "datasetId": "grain-size", "title": "Gold concentration across particle sizes", "description": "Selected Table 4 cases: separated older-computer components and integral newer-phone boards. These are different feedstocks, each divided into four sizes.", "unit": "g/t", "maximum": 2000, "precision": 2, "series": [ { "key": "computerGold", "label": "Computer components", "color": "#e26c65" }, { "key": "phoneGold", "label": "Phone boards", "color": "#aab6bf" } ] }, { "id": "grain-gold-distribution", "datasetId": "grain-size", "title": "Which size holds the contained gold?", "description": "Calculated share within each selected feedstock: mass share × gold assay, divided by their sum. Shares total 100% before rounding; no recovery yield is assumed.", "unit": "%", "maximum": 100, "precision": 2, "series": [ { "key": "computerGoldShare", "label": "Computer components", "color": "#e26c65" }, { "key": "phoneGoldShare", "label": "Phone boards", "color": "#aab6bf" } ] } ], "sections": [ { "id": "report", "label": "The original study", "heading": "What the 2020 study establishes", "blocks": [ { "type": "report" } ] }, { "id": "method", "label": "Samples and assay method", "heading": "Identify the material before interpreting the number", "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "text": "Seven sample groups were selected from manually sorted waste boards in Croatia, averaging about 28 kg each. Categories distinguish older and newer phones, older and newer computers, CRT televisions and two LCD board functions. The paper does not identify a collection year or provide a device count for each group.", "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ] }, { "type": "comparison-table", "ariaLabel": "Laboratory sampling and measurement steps", "caption": "Study workflow · printed 592–594 · procedures summarized from the original paper", "columns": [ "Stage", "Reported procedure", "What to check" ], "rows": [ { "label": "Define the sample", "cells": [ "Manually sorted board groups, classified by equipment type and generation.", "Representativeness, device mix, collection date and denominator." ] }, { "label": "Separate fractions", "cells": [ "Components removed with hot air for computers and TVs. Phone boards remained integral.", "Removed components are a mixture of metals, plastics, glass and ceramics." ] }, { "label": "Reduce and classify", "cells": [ "Quartering and two-stage shredding; four size classes from 1–4 mm down to < 0.1 mm.", "Record each fraction’s mass; a concentrated fraction can be small." ] }, { "label": "Measure content", "cells": [ "Aqua-regia digestion followed by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).", "An assay method does not establish plant recovery, purity or payable metal." ] } ] }, { "type": "limit", "text": "The paper does not provide numerical detection limits, replicate counts, certified-reference-material results or a complete analytical uncertainty budget. Values shown as < DL in size-fraction tables mean below detection, rather than proven absence. The apparatus and digestion description should not be treated as a validated commercial flowsheet.", "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ] } ] }, { "id": "measurements", "label": "Whole-board metals", "heading": "Compare the same tonne of board feed", "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "text": "The following tables reproduce the nine metal columns in Table 2. Precious metals use g/t; the six base metals use kg/t. These concentrations belong to circuit boards with components, rather than complete phones, computers or televisions.", "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ] }, { "type": "dataset-table", "datasetId": "whole-boards", "keys": [ "silver", "gold", "palladium" ], "firstColumn": "Board sample", "caption": "Table 2 · precious metals · g per metric tonne of circuit-board feed · printed 596 / PDF 7" }, { "type": "chart", "chartId": "board-silver" }, { "type": "chart", "chartId": "board-gold" }, { "type": "dataset-table", "datasetId": "whole-boards", "keys": [ "aluminium", "copper", "nickel", "lead", "tin", "zinc" ], "firstColumn": "Board sample", "caption": "Table 2 · base metals · kg per metric tonne of circuit-board feed · printed 596 / PDF 7" }, { "type": "chart", "chartId": "board-copper" }, { "type": "paragraph", "text": "Table 1 is a separate literature compilation. Its silver mean of 0.1027% converts to 1,027 g/t, with a published range of 0–0.3800%, equivalent to 0–3,800 g/t. Those heterogeneous earlier observations are not the mean or range of the seven samples shown here. For conversions, 1% equals 10 kg/t or 10,000 g/t.", "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ] }, { "type": "limit", "text": "Table 2 reports newer-phone gold at 1,071.35 g/t, while one sentence on printed page 595 gives 1,071.96 g/t. This page uses the table value; the weighted Table 4 calculation is within 0.01 g/t using the published rounded inputs. Published 0.00 palladium values are retained as table entries; the fraction tables include below-detection results. No zero should be interpreted as proof that every such board contains none.", "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ] } ] }, { "id": "components", "label": "Components versus base plates", "heading": "Follow both separated streams", "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "text": "The study separated components from computer and television boards, with both streams retained for assay. Phone boards could not be separated by this method. Component mass includes non-metals, so a component mass share is not a metal mass share.", "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ] }, { "type": "chart", "chartId": "part-silver" }, { "type": "chart", "chartId": "part-gold" }, { "type": "dataset-table", "datasetId": "separated-parts", "keys": [ "fractionMass", "silver", "gold", "palladium" ], "firstColumn": "Separated fraction", "caption": "Table 3 · mass shares of the whole board (%) and precious-metal assays per tonne of each fraction (g/t)" }, { "type": "dataset-table", "datasetId": "separated-parts", "keys": [ "aluminium", "copper", "nickel", "lead", "tin", "zinc" ], "firstColumn": "Separated fraction", "caption": "Table 3 · six base-metal assays · kg per tonne of each separated fraction" }, { "type": "paragraph", "text": "For the signal-reception boards, silver is 215.06 g/t in components and 244.41 g/t in base plates. Weighting these assays by 64.97% and 35.03% of board mass gives about 225.34 g/t, consistent with Table 2. Counting both fraction assays as whole-board grades would overstate the contained metal.", "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ] }, { "type": "limit", "text": "These concentrations describe where metals were measured. Demonstrating a separation benefit requires a material balance, treatment cost, dust and residue accounting, and the downstream recovery of both streams." } ] }, { "id": "particle-size", "label": "Particle size and metal mass", "heading": "A rich fraction can hold a small share of the metal", "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "text": "These two Table 4 examples show why grade and metal mass need separate views. Older-computer components have their highest gold assay below 0.1 mm, while newer-phone boards have their highest gold assay in the 1–4 mm fraction. The phone sample is an exception to a simple “finer means richer” rule.", "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ] }, { "type": "chart", "chartId": "grain-gold-grade" }, { "type": "dataset-table", "datasetId": "grain-size", "keys": [ "computerMass", "computerGold", "phoneMass", "phoneGold" ], "firstColumn": "Particle size", "caption": "Selected Table 4 inputs · mass share of each feedstock (%) and gold assay per tonne of that size fraction (g/t)" }, { "type": "chart", "chartId": "grain-gold-distribution" }, { "type": "dataset-table", "datasetId": "grain-size", "keys": [ "computerGoldShare", "phoneGoldShare" ], "firstColumn": "Particle size", "caption": "SilverWars calculation from Table 4 · share of contained gold in each selected feedstock (%) · not a recovery rate" }, { "type": "paragraph", "text": "For older-computer components, the < 0.1 mm fraction has a gold assay of 717.50 g/t but represents only 3.91% of component mass. Its calculated share of contained gold is about 14.22%. The larger 1–4 mm fraction contains about 57.51%. Both statements can be true without establishing a recovery yield." }, { "type": "limit", "text": "Conclusions summarize tendencies across samples; the tabulated exceptions remain relevant. No consistent silver enrichment rule is established across all particle sizes. The calculated distributions use rounded published inputs and describe the selected feedstocks only.", "sourceIds": [ "pcb-study-2020" ] } ] }, { "id": "recovery", "label": "From content to usable supply", "heading": "Account for the losses and the route to a buyer", "blocks": [ { "type": "chain", "label": "From waste-board content to delivered secondary metal", "stages": [ { "title": "Collect", "question": "How much suitable board feed can actually be secured?" }, { "title": "Separate", "question": "Where does the metal go, including dust and residues?" }, { "title": "Refine", "question": "What metal-specific yield and product purity are demonstrated?" }, { "title": "Deliver", "question": "Who owns the output and can the buyer qualify it in time?" } ] }, { "type": "comparison-table", "ariaLabel": "Metal content and recovery accounting", "caption": "Evidence ladder · SilverWars analytical framework · the study supplies assay evidence at the first step", "columns": [ "Measure", "Meaning", "Evidence required" ], "rows": [ { "label": "Contained metal", "cells": [ "Board-feed mass × representative metal assay.", "A defined batch, sampling protocol, weights and assay uncertainty." ] }, { "label": "Recovered metal", "cells": [ "Contained metal × measured metal-specific recovery across the process.", "Reconciled input, output, dust, slag, liquid and residue balances." ] }, { "label": "Payable metal", "cells": [ "Metal for which a buyer or refiner pays under the contract.", "Assay settlement, deductions, treatment charges and ownership." ] }, { "label": "Qualified supply", "cells": [ "Product available in the buyer’s required form, purity and time window.", "Specifications, qualification, delivery terms and verified output." ] } ] }, { "type": "paragraph", "text": "Apply collection and board-separation factors only when starting with complete-device waste. A tonne of already separated boards has a different denominator. Do not multiply a circuit-board grade by the mass of all global e-waste, or apply a whole-stream recycling percentage as a silver recovery rate." }, { "type": "paragraph", "text": "The strategic investigation follows collectors, processors, refining access and offtake rights across borders. A domestic collection program can still rely on overseas separation or refining. Evaluate the economics of the full metal mix alongside environmental controls and accountable residues." } ] }, { "id": "current-evidence", "label": "Current resource intelligence", "heading": "Secondary resources compete through industrial systems", "blocks": [ { "type": "signals", "items": [ { "id": "collection-gap", "title": "Collection limits the accessible resource", "date": "20 March 2024 publication · 2022 measurements", "fact": "ITU and UNITAR report 62 million tonnes of global e-waste generated in 2022, with 22.3% documented as formally collected and recycled.", "analysis": "Investigate the board fraction, local collection systems and contracts before estimating accessible feedstock.", "limit": "This is a whole-e-waste mass measure for 2022. It is neither a 2026 observation nor a metal-specific recovery yield.", "sourceIds": [ "gem-2024" ] }, { "id": "border-controls", "title": "Waste movement affects the processing route", "date": "Effective 1 January 2025 · Basel e-waste amendments", "fact": "The amendments extend prior-informed-consent controls to hazardous and other e-waste, including components and relevant processing residues, for Parties bound by the amendments.", "analysis": "Trace shipment classifications, consents and destination facilities when assessing refinery access and lead time.", "limit": "The Secretariat notes non-acceptance exceptions. National definitions and implementation matter; this source does not approve a particular shipment.", "sourceIds": [ "basel-ewaste-2025" ] }, { "id": "eu-capacity", "title": "European policy measures capacity as well as collection", "date": "2024 regulation · 2030 benchmark", "fact": "Article 5 of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act sets a 2030 benchmark for Union recycling capacity able to produce at least 25% of annual strategic-raw-material consumption.", "analysis": "Track operating plants, feedstock access and saleable output against the benchmark.", "limit": "The benchmark is not an achieved recycling share or a universal 25% silver requirement. Material scope and capacity differ from current production.", "sourceIds": [ "eu-crma-2024" ] }, { "id": "silver-secondary-supply", "title": "Silver recycling already contributes to U.S. supply", "date": "USGS 2026 edition · 2025 estimates", "fact": "USGS estimates approximately 1,000 tonnes of silver recovered from new and old scrap in 2025, about 11% of apparent U.S. consumption. Net import reliance was 77%. Silver was added to the final 2025 U.S. critical-minerals list.", "analysis": "Measure how much additional electronics recovery can become accessible, qualified supply, and where the refinery route is controlled.", "limit": "New and old scrap includes sources beyond circuit boards. Eleven percent is a consumption share, not an 11% recovery yield; these annual estimates do not measure a live shortage.", "sourceIds": [ "usgs-mcs-2026" ] } ] }, { "type": "links", "items": [ { "url": "/silver-institute-audit/", "label": "Examine silver data and availability definitions →" }, { "url": "/silver-standards/", "label": "Explore military and aerospace silver specifications →" }, { "url": "/research/strategic-minerals-us-alternatives-1990/", "label": "Read the analysis of U.S. supply alternatives →" } ] } ] }, { "id": "watchlist", "label": "Intelligence questions", "heading": "Turn the assay into a testable investigation", "blocks": [ { "type": "watchlist", "items": [ { "title": "What feedstock can be secured?", "question": "Which board types, equipment generations and annual quantities are covered by collection or purchase contracts?", "evidence": "Collection records, device mix, sorted-board weights, competing reuse routes and contract rights." }, { "title": "How representative is the grade?", "question": "Do independent, repeated batch assays reproduce the reported values for current feedstock?", "evidence": "Sampling plans, accredited laboratory reports, detection limits, reference materials and uncertainty." }, { "title": "Where does each metal go?", "question": "Do the mass balances account for both component and base-plate streams, fines and treatment residues?", "evidence": "Fraction weights, assays and metal-specific balances across actual operating campaigns." }, { "title": "Who controls refining and delivery?", "question": "Can the processor deliver a qualified product through a permitted route within the buyer’s required time?", "evidence": "Facility ownership, process capability, shipment consents, settlement terms and customer qualification." }, { "title": "Does the full process sustain itself?", "question": "Do payable metals cover collection, separation, refining, transport and residue treatment under documented conditions?", "evidence": "Realized settlements, operating costs, contaminant penalties, energy use and environmental performance." } ] } ] }, { "id": "sources", "label": "Sources and limits", "heading": "Trace every measurement and interpretation", "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "text": "Tables and charts are SilverWars adaptations of data reported by Anić-Vučinić, Bedeković, Šarc and Premur in JSDEWES 8(3), 590–602 (2020), DOI 10.13044/j.sdewes.d7.0312. Values from Tables 2–4 retain their sample basis. Figure layouts and contained-gold calculations are new; no author or publisher endorsement is implied." }, { "type": "links", "items": [ { "url": "https://www.sdewes.org/jsdewes/copyright.php", "label": "Publisher’s CC BY 3.0 attribution policy ↗" }, { "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/", "label": "Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence ↗" } ] }, { "type": "sources" } ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "pcb-study-2020", "title": "Determining Metal Content in Waste Printed Circuit Boards and their Electronic Components", "publisher": "Anić-Vučinić, Bedeković, Šarc and Premur · JSDEWES / SDEWES Centre", "kind": "Original peer-reviewed laboratory study", "publishedAt": "2020-09", "datePrecision": "month", "retrievedAt": "2026-10-03", "url": "https://www.sdewes.org/jsdewes/dp043d5cc53518ab794187660aa79d1fc849eda75a", "sha256": "bd74901cbcf5eb75966579ebd047cc0356780a5a1c12b528ab0e9d422393249c", "locator": "Printed 590–602 / PDF 1–13; Table 1 literature comparison p.591; method pp.592–594; Tables 2–3 p.596; Tables 4–5 pp.597–598; conclusions pp.599–600.", "supports": "Historical board and fraction assays, sample definitions, laboratory method and observed exceptions. Original table values support the new chart layouts and explicitly calculated contained-gold distributions.", "limit": "Seven selected Croatian sample groups; collection date and device counts are not established. No complete uncertainty budget or commercial recovery trial. Table 2 and one narrative gold value differ; fraction-table < DL entries require detection-limit interpretation." }, { "id": "gem-2024", "title": "Global E-waste Monitor 2024 · release and principal findings", "publisher": "UNITAR and ITU", "kind": "Primary institutional global statistics", "publishedAt": "2024-03-20", "datePrecision": "day", "retrievedAt": "2026-10-03", "url": "https://unitar.org/about/news-stories/press/global-e-waste-monitor-2024-electronic-waste-rising-five-times-faster-documented-e-waste-recycling", "locator": "Release of 20 March 2024; 2022 generation and documented formal collection/recycling figures.", "supports": "62 million tonnes of e-waste generated and 22.3% documented formally collected and recycled in 2022.", "limit": "All e-waste, not only PCBs. Report year differs from measurement year. Formal collection/recycling mass is not recovered silver mass or a current 2026 flow." }, { "id": "basel-ewaste-2025", "title": "E-waste Amendments · Secretariat questions and answers", "publisher": "Basel Convention Secretariat", "kind": "Primary international treaty guidance", "effectiveAt": "2025-01-01", "retrievedAt": "2026-10-03", "url": "https://www.basel.int/Implementation/Ewaste/EwasteAmendments/EwasteAmendmentsFAQs/tabid/10107/Default.aspx", "locator": "Questions 1–5: scope, entries A1181 and Y49, entry into force and non-acceptance; questions 6–12: definitions and controls.", "supports": "Prior-informed-consent scope for e-waste movements, component and processing-residue coverage, and exceptions to amendment acceptance.", "limit": "The FAQ has no established publication date. National definitions, Party status, restrictions and shipment-specific approvals still require verification." }, { "id": "eu-crma-2024", "title": "Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 · Critical Raw Materials Act", "publisher": "European Parliament and Council · Official Journal of the European Union", "kind": "Primary legislation", "publishedAt": "2024-05-03", "effectiveAt": "2024-05-23", "datePrecision": "day", "retrievedAt": "2026-10-03", "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1252/oj/eng", "locator": "Article 2 definitions; Article 5(1)(a)(iii), 2030 recycling-capacity benchmark; Annex I material scope; Article 49 entry into force.", "supports": "The 2030 Union recycling-capacity benchmark relative to annual strategic-raw-material consumption.", "limit": "Capacity benchmark, not achieved output or a 25% PCB/silver recovery requirement. This analysis does not infer completed implementation or a permit for any project." }, { "id": "usgs-mcs-2026", "title": "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · version 1.3", "publisher": "U.S. Geological Survey", "kind": "Primary government statistics", "publishedAt": "2026-02", "updatedAt": "2026-05", "datePrecision": "month", "retrievedAt": "2026-10-03", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026.pdf", "sha256": "595e6e66674236dea40125a03eb1ea6b347f331c0bcf3411a1e77eba53c0d391", "locator": "Silver printed 172–173 / PDF 176–177: 2025 secondary production, recycling share, net import reliance and addition to the 2025 list.", "supports": "2025 U.S. silver recycling and consumption estimates, import reliance and silver’s U.S. critical-mineral designation.", "limit": "All new and old silver scrap, not PCB-only recycling. Consumption share is not process yield, and annual statistics do not establish deliverable inventory." } ] }