The Power of Zero
How Itronics is disrupting the global e-waste industry
Electronic waste, or e-waste, describes discarded electronic devices. A small but very valuable subset of e-waste is printed computer circuit boards, which contain various precious metals; just one ton of printed circuit boards contain about 40x more gold than one ton of ore (https://www.simsrecycling.com/resources/circular-economy/). The increase in the use of electronic devices makes e-waste one of the fastest growing waste streams. The U.S. alone generated approximately 7 million tons of e-waste in 2016. Globally, the buildup of e-waste has more than doubled in the last ten years. According to United Nations University, as of 2016 the yearly accumulation of e-waste had reached 49 million tons. By 2021, e-waste is predicted to exceed 57 million tons globally. In short, e-waste represents a growing global problem, a problem in search of an answer.
Answering the Call
A Reno, NV firm, Itronics Inc. (OTC: ITRO) has developed breakthrough zero waste refining technology to reclaim precious metals from discarded printed circuit boards, including gold, silver, palladium, copper and tin. Using a ground-breaking new process, Itronics first reclaims silver from liquid photographic waste and/or mine tailings, at which point the special chemical makeup of the reclaimed silver enables it to soak-up metals from circuit boards during furnace refining. The reclaimed metals then become ingredients in the company’s bullion. Itronics won an award in 2016 from NV Energy, a Nevada public power company, for reducing furnace power consumption by 50 percent. Other smelters use Copper to reclaim metals from circuit boards during furnace refining, resulting in a less efficient, less environmentally friendly process, versus Itronics 100 percent beneficial use outcome, which reclaims 100 percent of the product, resulting in zero environmental impact. Capturing metals from printed circuit boards is part of Itronics’ overall mission to reclaim 100percent of all materials it processes, converting everything into salable goods. Itronics Inc. is an emerging Clean Tech Materials Growth Company that produces GOLD'n GRO Multi-Nutrient Fertilizers and Silver. The Company's growth forecast centers upon its 10-year business plan designed to integrate its Zero Waste Energy Saving Technologies and to grow annual sales from $2 million in 2019, to $70 million in 2025.
World-scale E-waste Companies
While the e-waste industry is large, the total number of companies that have world-scale collection, refining and smelting capacity is small; less than a dozen. This highly concentrated industry also has very high barriers to entry. The Companies below collect, smelt and/or refine e-waste and printed circuit boards on a large scale, at 100,000 tons per year or more.
E-waste Smelting and Refining Companies
E-waste Collection Companies
Itronics = A Win-Win Scenario
How do we turn the e-waste win-lose scenario into an e-waste win-win scenario? Itronics believes it has the answer; through the use of its breakthrough, proprietary process, the whole printed circuit board is utilized; precious metals, base metals and energy are recovered, toxic chemicals are removed and the outcome is 100 percent beneficial use resulting in positive environmental impact. As the amount of e-waste continues to grow globally, the need to process electronic waste safely and with the environment in mind grows ever more important. Itronics Inc. is poised and ready to answer this call.
Answering the Call
A Reno, NV firm, Itronics Inc. (OTC: ITRO) has developed breakthrough zero waste refining technology to reclaim precious metals from discarded printed circuit boards, including gold, silver, palladium, copper and tin. Using a ground-breaking new process, Itronics first reclaims silver from liquid photographic waste and/or mine tailings, at which point the special chemical makeup of the reclaimed silver enables it to soak-up metals from circuit boards during furnace refining. The reclaimed metals then become ingredients in the company’s bullion. Itronics won an award in 2016 from NV Energy, a Nevada public power company, for reducing furnace power consumption by 50 percent. Other smelters use Copper to reclaim metals from circuit boards during furnace refining, resulting in a less efficient, less environmentally friendly process, versus Itronics 100 percent beneficial use outcome, which reclaims 100 percent of the product, resulting in zero environmental impact. Capturing metals from printed circuit boards is part of Itronics’ overall mission to reclaim 100percent of all materials it processes, converting everything into salable goods. Itronics Inc. is an emerging Clean Tech Materials Growth Company that produces GOLD'n GRO Multi-Nutrient Fertilizers and Silver. The Company's growth forecast centers upon its 10-year business plan designed to integrate its Zero Waste Energy Saving Technologies and to grow annual sales from $2 million in 2019, to $70 million in 2025.
World-scale E-waste Companies
While the e-waste industry is large, the total number of companies that have world-scale collection, refining and smelting capacity is small; less than a dozen. This highly concentrated industry also has very high barriers to entry. The Companies below collect, smelt and/or refine e-waste and printed circuit boards on a large scale, at 100,000 tons per year or more.
E-waste Smelting and Refining Companies
- Boliden AB (OTCMKTS: BONNY) - Sweden– One of the largest circuit board refiners in the world.
- Glencore PLC (OTCMKTS: GLNCY) - Canada – the largest circuit board refiner in North America and one of the largest in the world.
- Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (OTCMKTS: MIMTF) - Japan- One of the largest circuit board refiners in the world.
- Umicore Group (OTCMKTS: UMICY) - Belgium – one of the largest refiners of circuit boards in the world.
E-waste Collection Companies
- Sims Metal Management (OTCQB: SMSMY) - United States - Sims Ltd. engages in the recycling of metal and electronics; also has international operations.
- Veolia Environmental SA (OTCMKTS: VEOEY) - United States - One of the largest U. S. waste management Companies, has a large e-scrap collection business; also has international operations.
Itronics = A Win-Win Scenario
How do we turn the e-waste win-lose scenario into an e-waste win-win scenario? Itronics believes it has the answer; through the use of its breakthrough, proprietary process, the whole printed circuit board is utilized; precious metals, base metals and energy are recovered, toxic chemicals are removed and the outcome is 100 percent beneficial use resulting in positive environmental impact. As the amount of e-waste continues to grow globally, the need to process electronic waste safely and with the environment in mind grows ever more important. Itronics Inc. is poised and ready to answer this call.