The Royal Mint, known for producing the UK’s coins, has embarked on an innovative project to turn electronic waste into gold. A new, state-of-the-art industrial plant at its site in Llantrisant, Wales, is dedicated to extracting precious metal from discarded circuit boards.
This facility processes old electronics—ranging from smartphones and computers to televisions—by first heating the circuit boards to separate their components. The resulting fragments are then sifted and sorted, with gold-bearing pieces set aside for further treatment.
Head of Sustainability Inga Doak described the initiative as “urban mining,” emphasizing the value found in what society discards. “We’re extracting gold from waste products and recognizing the worth of this finite resource,” she explained.
At the plant, gold-containing components are immersed in a chemical solution that dissolves the gold. This liquid is then filtered to yield a powder that, when heated in a furnace, transforms into pure gold.
Leighton John, the Royal Mint’s operations director, noted that the new process is less energy-intensive and environmentally damaging compared to traditional methods. “Our chemistry operates at room temperature and uses recyclable materials, which makes it a significant advancement over conventional methods,” he said.
E-waste represents a growing global issue, with the UN reporting that 62 million tonnes were discarded in 2022, a figure expected to rise by about a third by 2030. The UK, the second largest producer of tech waste per capita, is now addressing this problem domestically.
The Royal Mint aims to process up to 4,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, potentially recovering around 450 kilograms of gold worth approximately £27 million at current market rates. This new venture is a strategic pivot for the Royal Mint, traditionally focused on coin production. With cash usage declining, the move into e-waste recycling helps preserve jobs and diversify revenue streams.
CEO Anne Jessopp highlighted the importance of this transition: “With fewer people needed for coin production, this shift allows us to retain jobs and explore new opportunities in waste processing.”
In addition to gold recovery, the Royal Mint is exploring the potential uses for other materials extracted from e-waste, such as aluminium, copper, tin, and steel. They are also considering the feasibility of using ground-up circuit boards in the construction industry.
