Member-only story

A New Zealand Startup Is Using Microbes to Suck Solid Gold Out of E-Waste

Microscopic organisms can extract precious metals from discarded devices

Rina Diane Caballar
OneZero
6 min readMay 4, 2020

Photo: Johner Royalty-Free/Getty Images

The world produces 50 million tons of e-waste each year — equivalent to 4,500 Eiffel Towers or 125,000 jumbo jets — from old computers, discarded screens, broken smartphones, and damaged tablets. E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world, but it also holds metals crucial to tech that could soon become short in supply.

As our reliance on tech increases, there’s a growing need to reduce e-waste while conserving metals vital to building tech products. The solution may lie in the tiniest of organisms: microbes. These microscopic life forms can extract metals such as cobalt, gold, and platinum from the devices we toss into landfills.

“Microbes can facilitate some processes that would otherwise require high temperatures and other extreme conditions,” says Anna Kaksonen, who leads the Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology Group of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia’s national science research agency. “In some cases, they provide a more sustainable alternative than traditional pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical processes.”

Create an account to read the full story.

The author made this story available to Medium members only.
If you’re new to Medium, create a new account to read this story on us.

Or, continue in mobile web

Already have an account? Sign in

OneZero
OneZero

Published in OneZero

OneZero is a former publication from Medium about the impact of technology on people and the future. Currently inactive and not taking submissions.

Rina Diane Caballar
Rina Diane Caballar

Written by Rina Diane Caballar

Filipina. Freelance writer. Chocoholic. Words @ The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, BBC Travel, and more.

Responses (3)

What are your thoughts?

Fascinating article about a new “green” concept of precious metal recovery from e-waste. This deserves watching, and if successful, emulating. Best, most positive article I’ve read in a while.

Thanks for this great article!
We need to keep fighting electronic waste and rethinking and, reevaluating our decisions are the starting point.
I share in this article 7 strategies to fight electronic waste, I believe you will find valuable: 👉…

World Green E-Waste Recycling is one of the leading E-waste Recycling Company in India.
Visit Us at https://worldgreenewaste.com/e-waste-company-gurgaon/
PHONE : +91-9870722728, 7617703768 , 01214342550
For Business Opportunity- Join hands with us and earn Profit.