Royal Mint Turns Electronic Waste into Gold Jewelry

The Royal Mint in Britain is turning electronic waste into luxury jewelry. The state-owned coin factory and medal maker has a plant that can process around 4,000 tonnes of e-waste per year, containing about 400 kilos of gold.

Average Bank of England office phones contain 30 milligrams of gold, worth approximately three pounds at current prices. A modern smartphone contains roughly four pounds' worth of the metal, prized for its ability to conduct electricity and resist corrosion.

The Mint uses a patented process developed by Canadian company Excir that dissolves gold at room temperature without requiring external energy input or generating hazardous waste.