E-Waste Contains Precious Metals that Can Be Recycled, Says Dillon Gage Metals

E-waste – electronic waste – is quickly cluttering our lives. And as with other types of clutter, it eventually finds its way to the trash. However, electronic items need to be disposed of properly, not just tossed in the trash. While some can be refurbished and reused, others may contain elements harmful to landfills. To educate residents, many communities hold special e-waste collection days and sites. Dillon Gage Metals shares how metals from e-waste can best be recycled.

Electronic devices – everything from cell phones and personal digital assistants to calculators and global positioning systems – can contain 40 to 50 cents worth of gold, along with small amounts of silver and copper. Television sets and personal computers also contain precious and industrial metals.

“Silver, gold and copper are the best electrical conductors, and gold is preferred in small equipment because it doesn't corrode,” says Terry Hanlon, president of Dillon Gage Metals in Dallas. Recycling of metals used in electronics is increasing, but much more can be done. “One step in the right direction is for everyone to participate in America Recycles Day,” he adds.

Started by Keep America Beautiful, Inc. 14 years ago, America Recycles Day encourages the reuse of materials, keeping them out of landfills and away from incineration. The day promotes environmental good citizenship.

Over two million metric tons of gold ore and waste are recovered from electronic scrap in the United States annually. Old computers contain recoverable metals – including gold, silver, palladium, platinum and copper – from wires and circuit boards.

“People can organize an e-waste collection day or program in their own community,” Hanlon states. That makes it easier for residents to dispose of their electronic items in an environmentally friendly manner. Electronics collected at local events can be sent to recovery centers for safe destruction and recycling.

Or, on an individual basis, consumers can dispose of old cell phones, computers and television sets by delivering them to an electronics recycler who removes gold, silver, platinum, copper and aluminum for reuse.

Cell phones have become particularly disposable and are often used for less than two years because they don't have desired features, no longer work or aren't compatible with a new service provider. Some phones are refurbished and put back into use, or they're combed for replacement parts. But most of the hundreds of millions of cell phones retired annually end up stashed somewhere at home or tossed in the trash.

When electronic waste is thrown in the garbage and sent to the landfill, hazardous wastes can leak into soil, water and the atmosphere. Electronic waste contains toxic lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and radioactive isotopes, threatening human health. Lead can cause cancer and learning difficulties, chromium can cause high blood pressure and worse, and cadmium is a carcinogen. Hexavalent chromium was at the center of the lawsuit portrayed in the Julia Roberts’ movie “Erin Brockovich.”

Dillon Gage is committed to a Green America and refers any clients interested in recycling computer circuit boards or other electronic parts to specialist companies, Hanlon explains. Dillon Gage Metals refines bench sweeps, polishing dust and dental gold, and requires that the gold or the combined gold, silver and platinum in a lot have a minimum value of $10,000. All of Dillon Gage's refining processes are environmentally sound and meet or exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements, he notes.

Dillon Gage operates a refinery in Dallas. For more information on Dillon Gage Metals Refinery, please visit http://www.dillongage.com/metals/refining or phone 888-436-3489. Follow Dillon Gage on Twitter @DillonGage and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/dillongage.

About Dillon Gage Metals
Dillon Gage Inc. (DillonGage.com) was founded in 1976, and its companies include:
• Dillon Gage Metals, one of the largest precious metals dealers in the U.S. (DillonGage.com/Metals) 800.375.4653
• Dillon Gage Refinery, state of the art refinery located in Dallas, Texas.(dillongage.com/metals/refining) 888.436.3489
• FizTrade Online Trading offers real-time trading for bid and ask markets for gold, silver platinum and palladium. (FizTrade.com) 800.375.4653
• Diamond State Depository, a wholly owned, independently operated precious metals storage facility located in New Castle, Delaware.(DiamondStateDepository.com) 888.322.6150
• International Depository Services of Canada a wholly owned, independently operated precious metals storage facility located in Toronto, Canada (IDSofCanada.com)

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