Stunning #SurrealPortraits created from e-waste by photographer Benjamin Von Wong: https://zorz.it/ClPeS

#Webneel #BenjaminVonWong #photographer #ElectronicProduct #photography #PortraitPhotography #ElectronicWaste #Dell #RecyclingProgram

#GoldExtraction from #EWaste gets 10 times more efficient with new sponge material

Researchers developed a nanoscale cross-dimensional composite material via self-assembly of two-dimensional graphene oxide and one-dimensional chitosan macromolecules.

By Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Oct 27, 2024

"Researchers have developed a new type of material that’s 10 times more efficient at extracting gold from e-waste than previous adsorbents. Developed by chemists and materials scientists at the National University of Singapore, the material is a type of sponge made of #GrapheneOxide and #chitosan [shrimp shells].

"The material can reportedly transform the way gold is extracted from electronic wastes, which has been described so far as a dirty business with low yields and results in toxic #pollutants.

"The cheaper, cleaner and efficient method was tested by researchers using real e-waste provided by a recycling company."

[...]

"While the present work focused on gold, the team say the technique could be adapted to recover other valuable metals such as #silver, #platinum or #palladium from #ElectronicWaste or even #mining residues. And that is not all: as well as e-waste, the technology might be applied to a wider range of environmental cleaning efforts, such as filtering out #HeavyMetals from #PollutedWater sources or industrial effluents, reported Physics World."

Read more:
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/gold-extraction-from-e-waste-sponge


Article in Physics World - Eco-friendly graphene composite recovers gold from e-waste

24 Oct 2024

https://physicsworld.com/a/eco-friendly-graphene-composite-recovers-gold-from-e-waste/

#SolarPunkSunday #NoGoldMining
#EWasteRecycling #MetalsExtraction #Electronics #RareEarthMinerals #Recycling #NewTechnology #ShrimpShells

#ZeroWasteAotearoa - Mine #EWaste for #gold, not beautiful landscapes

February 16, 2026

​"As a fast-track consent is sought for a major gold mine in #CentralOtago and another has already been granted in #Coromandel, #ZeroWaste #Aotearoa is calling upon the government to mine #ElectronicWaste, not beautiful landscapes, for gold and other precious metals.

"E-waste contains a significant concentration of gold, with one metric tonne of electronic waste containing up to 800 times more gold than a tonne of mined ore. While precious metals (including gold, silver, copper) make up approximately 60% of the composition of some e-waste, gold specifically is highly concentrated, with a single tonne of circuit boards containing roughly 39 grams of gold.

"#NewZealand currently generates 99,000 tonnes of e-waste every single year. Approximately 98 percent ends up in landfill or is disposed of illegally, according to the Ministry for the Environment.

" 'At present the voluntary product stewardship scheme means that we have one of the lowest rates of e-waste recovery in the world. We are literally throwing gold away into landfills while proposing to dig it up elsewhere in some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes. It is the height of madness,' says Sue Coutts of Zero Waste Aotearoa.

" 'Like many people across the country, we are gravely concerned about the environmental impact of gold mining. We think that there are much better ways to get these valuable resources – and ensure that they stay in circulation forever, not dumped in landfills.'

" 'The World Gold Council says that only 7% of gold is used in tech but 27% of worldwide gold production is already from recycling. This is more than 4 times what we need for tech – there is no valid reason to dig up any more of our precious #ecosystems.'

" '#ProductStewardship would create a pathway for a new industry: one built on resource recovery of valuable materials and a #CircularEconomy.

"NZ company #MINTInnovation relocated to #Sydney because they could tap into flows of e-waste from extended producer responsibility schemes that collect electronic waste in #Australia .

"They chose not to invest in NZ because there is no regulated e-waste scheme here. That’s $60m in turnover that will be dropping into the Australian economy every year instead of ours.

"E-waste was declared a priority product in June 2020 requiring the establishment of a regulated product stewardship scheme under the #WasteMinimisationAct. Yet six years on, a mandatory scheme is not in place and no further work is being done.

"Electronic waste, or e-waste, includes discarded electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, and televisions. E-waste is a rich source of precious metals and #RareEarth elements, including gold, #silver, #platinum, and #palladium, used in #CircuitBoards and components."

Source:
https://zerowaste.co.nz/media-statement-mine-e-waste-for-gold-not-beautiful-landscapes/

#SolarPunkSunday #NoGoldMining #EWasteRecycling #MetalsExtraction #Electronics

#SalemMA - #EWaste Recycling Event

March 28 @ 8:00 am

"$20 cash or check, per unit: TVs, Monitors, Microwaves, dehumidifiers, ACs, vacuum cleaners.

$40 cash or check, per unit: Refrigerators, Exercise Equipment, battery-powered lawn equipment, free-standing electronic devices such as fireplaces, heaters, air hockey tables, etc.

All Other Electronic Items: FREE Including: Computer towers, laptops, tablets, cellphones, small appliances, household electronics including phones, printers, fax machines, cd players, etc.

If your item is still in good working condition, consider donating it via one of the local #BuyNothing pages or other swap groups."

https://greensalem.com/event/e-waste-recycling-event-12/

#SolarPunkSunday #ZeroWasteSalem #ElectronicWaste #EWasteRecycling

#ToxicWaste from screens ends up in endangered #dolphins, study finds

Gene-altering chemicals found in humpback dolphins and finless porpoises, raising alarm they may end up in human food chain

by Tara Russell
Wed 25 Feb 2026 08.00 EST

Excerpt: " 'The presence of #LCMs in their brains is a major red flag,' He said. 'If these chemicals can cross the blood-brain barrier in dolphins, we must be concerned about the potential for similar effects in humans who are exposed through contaminated seafood or even drinking water.'

"#ElectronicWaste is a growing problem around the world, with 62m tonnes of it generated each year. The main culprit is '#FastTech' – cheap and often poorly manufactured items viewed as disposable, including devices that use LCMs.

"To reduce the damage, the researchers said people should try to extend the life of their #electronics through #repairs and disposing of them using certified #EWaste recycling methods."

Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/25/toxic-waste-from-screens-ends-up-in-endangered-dolphins-study-finds

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/cVdai

#RepairReuseRestore #EWaste #Pollution #OceansAreLife #WaterIsLife #RepairCafes #RightToRepair #PlannedObsolescence #CheapElectronics #LCDs

#EdinburghUK - #LinuxInstallParty @ Inverleith St Serfs Church Hall

Sun, 22 Feb • 01:30 PM

2.5 hours

Inverleith St Serf's Church Centre
1A Clark Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Free

"#Edinburgh #LinuxCafé is a group of IT professionals that want to help people save money - and reduce #ElectronicWaste along the way.

We can help you:

- Try out #LinuxMint for the first time without installing anything on your computer
- Install Linux Mint if you decide you want it (You can keep Windows too and then choose which one to start when you turn on the computer)
- Transfer your files
- Install your favourite software and show you how to keep it updated

This is a drop-in event, but we are operating informal time slots to help avoid congestion. Please book a slot below and come along with your laptop or a USB stick.

Things to bear in mind before the event:

- Do backup your personal files
- Do bring along your laptop charger
- If you aren't able to bring your device (e.g. a desktop computer), please bring a USB stick with you so we can put Linux Mint on it for you"

https://allevents.in/edinburgh/linux-install-party-inverleith-st-serfs-church-hall/100001982390933647

#SolarPunkSunday #EndOfWindows10 #Computers #LinuxAssistance #ComputerAssistance #LinuxInstall #ReduceEWaste

India is facing an alarming level of #ElectronicWaste (#EWaste), as it generates the 3rd largest #ewaste in the world, but cannot develop recycling facilities. Dominated by informal recycling facilities, there is a lack of oversight and significant gaps in interstate transportation as well as inventory creation management. India brought Ewaste rules in 2011, upgraded in 2016 and 2022, have not developed the necessary capacity to manage the increasing amounts of e-waste.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/xplore/2026/Feb/20/central-pollution-control-board-report-e-waste-piles-up-in-india-so-does-mismanagement

Tom’s Hardware: Los Angeles aims to ban single-use printer cartridges — new ordinance will target ink and toner that can’t be properly recycled. “The City Council has voted to create an ordinance that will ban single-use printer cartridges that can’t be refilled or that don’t have a take-back program offered by the vendor. This includes basically any ink or toner module that’s bound to end up […]

"Stories about the appropriation and alienation of electronic waste"

It seems that the "Zeitschrift für Technologie und Gesellschaft" [1] doesn't life anymore. I wrote a rather personal text [2] for the second issue of the journal, on my personal relationship to electronic waste. I still like the text, hence I'm re-publishing it on my own site. It's in German but your translation service of choice will work just fine.

> "Through the sensual observation of our waste, we get into relationship with it and, beyond that, with ourselves."

[1] https://vigia.tech/
[2] https://jache.re/notes/Geschichten%20zur%20Aneignung%20und%20Entfremdung%20von%20Elektroschrott.html

#ElectronicWaste #Goblin