Jiva & The Royal Mint: Tackling E-Waste Head-On

(Photograph: The Royal Mint)

Jiva is delighted to announce that we are working with The Royal Mint to validate the recyclability of our PCBs.

We recently had the privilege of visiting The Royal Mint to explore their groundbreaking recycling plant in Llantrisant, Wales. The site is a cutting-edge solution to the world’s fastest growing waste stream: e-waste.

At Jiva, we are well aligned with The Royal Mint’s values. They have capacity to process up to 4,000 tonnes of PCBs annually, ensuring that critical materials are extracted and repurposed.

The Royal Mint’s operations also have a tangible social impact, creating demand for new skills and technical expertise alongside UK employment opportunities.

We will be investigating whether Jiva’s Soluboard technology can complement their zero to landfill policy and further reduce the carbon footprint of their processes.

The Problem

E-waste, which includes PCBs, is arguably the most complex waste stream in the world. Each year, over 50 million tonnes of e-waste are generated globally, a figure projected to climb to 120 million tonnes by 2050. Despite this massive volume, only 17% of e-waste is formally recycled, resulting in £8 billion of precious metals being sent to landfill every year.

The issue is worsened by the shortening lifespan of electronic devices. When electronics were first mass-produced, they were expected to last up to 40 years. By the 1990s, their lifespan was halved and today, most devices are used for as little as 1.5 years, averaging only 4.5 years. For example, desktops and laptops are recommended to be replaced every three years to maintain performance; this increasing turnover contributes to the ongoing surge in e-waste levels.

The Solution

The Royal Mint is tackling this waste stream with their custom-built plant, recovering precious metals and other valuable materials from PCBs. Leveraging technology including the revolutionary Excir eco-friendly chemistry, 99% of gold can be selectively leached from PCBs at room temperature, eliminating the need for high-temperature smelting that contributes to carbon emissions.

However, The Royal Mint doesn’t solely recover precious metals like gold, silver and palladium. Their processes also recover: Copper, for re-use in electronics; Aluminium, adaptable for aerospace, medical and construction applications; Reinforcement fibres, repurposed into concrete and other materials; Capacitors, reprocessed into new electronics and medical equipment.

Together with partners like The Royal Mint, Jiva is demonstrating that a more sustainable future for PCB waste handling is not only possible, but already well on the way.

Read more: The Royal Mint