If, like us, you’re a fan of all types of gadgets and gizmos, you probably find yourself often replacing your phone, computer, console or other device with the latest model, rendering your once well-loved gadgets obsolete. We love owning the latest and most pioneering technology, but that can mean that quite a lot of older items are left lying around, gathering dust.
If you’ve found yourself out of pocket after splashing out on the latest gadgets, why not put your older models to good use? With Christmas just around the corner we all need as much cash as we can get in order to truly enjoy the festive season. With presents to buy and parties to attend, it’s a great time to think about raising some extra money – and your old gadgets and gizmos can help.
Could Your Old Tech Be A Literal Goldmine?
How? By recycling. This is not just some eco fad, this is something that can really help make you money and ensure that your old items get put to good use. There are plenty of companies out there who will recycle computers, televisions, mobile phones – and they will pay you for doing so.
It doesn’t even matter if the items you’re looking to recycle are no longer working. It’s a little known fact that many electrical items contain precious metals, such as gold and silver – they’re fantastic conductors and are very resistant to corrosion, making then perfect for electronics.
Precious metal refining companies are able to safely and responsibly chemically refine and melt your items in order to reclaim materials such as gold, silver, platinum, cobalt and titanium.
Even if you haven’t got an entire system to recycle, you’d be surprised where these metals can crop up. There are precious metals present in a number of everyday electrical items, such as wire, plugs, integrated circuits, components, connectors, circuit boards and electronic units. It’s always worth trying to recycling something, rather than just throwing it away.
Beat The Lifecycle Decline And Cash In
With more and more electrical products on the market, and their lifecycle decreasing, precious metal refining is becoming a big business. The Government are getting behind it too – in 2006 the European Union introduced the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE directive) which aimed to reduce the amount of electrical waste being thrown away and encourage the recycling of metals and the responsible disposal of hazardous and toxic elements. It stipulates that, by 2016, EU member states will be required to collect 45 tonnes of electronic waste for every 100 tonnes sold over the previous three years.
So, next time you consider throwing your old phone, tablet or games console think again! Even a dodgy old cable or plug has the potential to bring in the bucks. Visit AWA precious metal refiners who will be happy to take your old electronics off your hands, in exchange for cash. However, you should always ensure that the place you are visiting is fully licensed and registered with the Environment Agency for hazardous waste, so you know that it will be dealt with responsibly.
This guest post was written by Emma Williams, blogger and writer for UK-based AWA Refiners, who specialise in the recycling and salvaging of discarded electronic equipment.
