New technologies for recovering PCB Components & how they may impact us

If this has been posted by anyone else I apologize in advance. Here's an article - Dissolving Circuit Boards for Easier Electronics Recycling - describing how a UK company has created a new polymer for PCB use that will dissolve when immersed in hot water, thus releasing the components from the board. This article estimates that 90% of the PCB's contents would be recovered using this technology in comparison to current PCB manufacturing methods which the article claims result in less than 2% of materials being reused.

Just wanted to see others thoughts on this and how you think it may project on us "mom & pop" type ecyclers?



My initial thought is if this is successful and becomes widely incorporated by PCB MFG's, the result will be more "major" players entering this market. If you've positioned yourself well and have a consistent supply of electronics this can only make your job easier. However, for those of us who haggle to track down PC's each month, we're probably the one's who get left out as the ease of recycling the components will become attractive to larger corporations.

Originally Posted by curlzcopper

which the article claims result in less than 2% of materials being reused.

I'm not well educated on the subject, but have read that some refiners grind their stuff for recovery of what they can get, and then sell the remaining sludge to other refiners who are able to carry it to the next level, recovering the remaining 50%. 50% merely as an(hopefully near accurate) example, being i don't recall their exact numbers.