Taking Recycling to the Next Level
When a device is truly beyond repair, we recycle it responsibly. But traditional electronics recycling still uses harsh chemicals and extreme heat to extract valuable metals. We wanted to do better.
The Research
We've partnered with the Materials Science department at Leeds University to explore greener recycling methods:
- Bioleaching: Using specific bacteria to naturally extract gold, copper, and palladium from circuit boards — no toxic chemicals needed.
- Better plastic sorting: Developing smarter ways to separate the mixed plastics found in computer casings so more of it can be properly recycled.
Why It Matters
Even when you recycle, the process itself can be harmful. This partnership aims to make the entire lifecycle of your donated device as green as possible — from collection to final recycling.