Greentech Lead: While electronic waste is becoming a growing concern among individuals and businesses, companies specializing in e-waste recycling view them as potential gold mines.
To rake in from this growing opportunity, Green Technology Solutions, a provider of e-waste recycling solutions, is working to deliver the processing technologies and best practices necessary to turn that trash into treasure.
The International Environmental Technology Center of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has revealed e-waste is the fastest growing segment of the global waste stream—particularly in developing nations, where the volume is expected to grow by up to 500 percent in the coming years.
The organization estimates that e-waste is increasing in volume by 40 percent per year worldwide, with 80 percent of it still going into landfills and incinerators.
At the same time, the production of consumer goods has reached such a pace that the world is rapidly running out of basic materials. Already, some rare materials like indium (used for LCD screens), tantalum (used in cellphones and microchips) and antimony (used in drugs) are nearing exhaustion, and the supply left may not last more than a generation.
GTSOis engaged in extracting rare earth minerals and precious metals production around the world. The company views e-waste recycling as key to supplying future needs, turning waste bins into the mines of the future. The company is investing time and money in e-waste supplies and infrastructure today so that it will be able to capture a major share of the marketplace tomorrow.
The company is also optimistic that the new regulation that mandates to keep e-waste out of landfills will boost the billion-dollar urban mining industry.
Latin America is GTSO’s primary region of focus, currently. Five countries in Latin America now have laws or rules mandating the recycling of e-waste: Columbia, Costa Rica, Peru, Brazil and Mexico.
Urban mining in Latin America is key to GTSO’s plans to compete alongside major international corporations striving for sustainable waste solutions, such as Industrial Services of America (NASDAQ: IDSA) and Sims Metal Management.
Late last year, GTSO acquired the company Global Cell Buyers and soon after rebranded the company as Green Urban Mining to handle its domestic recycling and resale operations.