The UK Royal Mint has unveiled a groundbreaking facility in South Wales aimed at extracting gold from e-waste, marking a significant step towards a more sustainable source of the precious metal and reducing reliance on traditional mining methods. The 3,700 square metre Precious Metals Recovery factory employs world-first patented chemistry from Canadian clean tech company Excir. Using this innovative technology, the Mint will recover gold from printed circuit boards (PCBs) found in everyday electronics such as TVs, laptops, and mobile phones. This method operates at room temperature and works in minutes, making it energy-efficient and cost-effective, according to the Mint.
This facility represents the first industrial-scale application of Excir’s technology, with the capability to process up to 4,000 tonnes of e-waste PCBs annually. The Royal Mint, the UK’s oldest company and sole coin producer, stated that this method enables them to “mine” high-quality 999.9 purity gold, already used in their luxury jewellery collection 886.
The launch of this facility addresses the escalating environmental issue of e-waste. The United Nations’ Global E-waste Monitor reports that electronic waste generation worldwide is rising by 2.6 million tonnes annually, hitting a record 62 million tonnes in 2022 — an 82% increase since 2010. The Royal Mint’s plant aims to mitigate this problem by recovering valuable finite resources and appropriately processing other materials for further treatment.
“The opening of this factory marks a pivotal step in our journey,” said chief executive Anne Jessopp. “We are not only preserving finite precious metals for future generations, but we are also preserving the expert craftsmanship The Royal Mint is famous for by creating new jobs and re-skilling opportunities for our employees.”
Committed to sustainability, the Royal Mint is collaborating with major industry bodies to develop the first International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for recycled gold. This initiative seeks to provide clarity to the industry, end consumers, and other stakeholders.
“The factory underpins our commitment to using sustainable precious metals and providing a new source of high-quality, recovered gold,” said chief growth officer Sean Millard. “It allows us to reduce our reliance on mined materials and is another example of how we’re working to decarbonize our operations.”
Amid a global decline in cash usage, the Royal Mint has been innovating and diversifying. Earlier this year, it announced the closure of its Overseas Currency division, with all 230 staff offered roles in new and expanding business areas, including the newly opened Precious Metals Recovery factory.
