Scotland’s tech-driven recycling project rescues old smartphones

According to research, 11 percent of smartphones sold worldwide are reconditioned models – Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP MARIO TAMA

The World Health Organization reports that electronic waste is rapidly increasing. Of this, smartphones are a significant component, making them one of the largest contributors to e-waste.

The demand for new smartphones means that millions of old devices end up discarded, contributing to a mounting pile of electronic waste. A report revealed that 5.3 billion phones in 2022 may have ended up in landfills.

To partly counter a portion of this e-waste, group of researchers in Scotland are working on a new project to recycle e-waste. If successful, this could be a game-changing solution.

The University of Aberdeen has received a grant of £140,000 from the AXA Research Fund. The research is based around green solvents and the method in the development involves a flow electrochemical cell, engineered for optimal element extraction.

If successful, this technology could reduce some of the problems of e-waste. Experts predict that, by 2030, our world may witness an alarming surge in electronic waste, approximately 75 million metric tons annually.

Beyond this environmental concern, there is also the potential to extract rare elements necessary for the manufacturing industry and other sectors (like cobalt, tungsten, and nickel). The aim is to separate these elements from those electricals efficiently, safely, and environmentally friendly.

By fostering such recycling techniques, products like smartphones are broken down, and their valuable materials are recovered and reintegrated to solve a more critical problem.

Philipp Pratt, a recognized Innovation Expert at Geonode, tells Digital Journal: “This is a revolution towards sustainable practices. As an expert, I can see an incredible potential in recycling and repurposing old smartphones and other electrical waste into an innovative solution.”

Pratt adds: “As we epitomise the potential of this game-changing project, let us be hopeful that soon, your retired smartphone might breathe new life. It’s not only as e-waste but as a harbinger of a greener, more equitable future. It’s a win-win situation: we reduce the environmental damage caused by new extraction and lessen our reliance on finite natural resources while contributing to the supply of essential materials for homes and manufacturing.