E-waste is the single fastest growing municipal waste stream in the United States, jumping 5% in a single year between 2007 and 2008. Most electronic devices contain hazardous materials that are detrimental to the environment when not properly disposed of, and in addition to environmental hazards, discarding electronics means losing valuable materials and components that could be re-purposed. $16 billion in gold and $5 billion in silver: a total of $21 billion -- equal to the GDP of El Salvador -- is locked away annually in e-products. In 2010, 152 million cellphones were discarded in the United States alone, and of that number only about 10% of the phones were recycled. Every million cellphones contains approximately 50 lbs of gold, 550 lbs of Silver, 20 lbs of Palladium and, 20,000 lbs of Copper. We want to take some of this data and use it to create wearable jewelry that highlights the value of what is being thrown away along with our electronics.
In 2011 1.59 BILLION cell phones were purchased worldwide, which means 2.9 billion dollars worth of precious metals were locked away and statistically are most likely to end up in a landfill in 18 months.
When we think about the cost, energy, and environmental impact that mining these precious metals cost, it's deeply disturbing to realize that in the end they're simply being thrown away.
Potential Materials:
We're looking into precious metals, potentially 3D printing directly with sterling silver or plated steel through shapeways, or printing our models in plastic and then using lost wax casting to cast our objects in one of the precious metals found in cellphones: Gold, Silver, Palladium, and Copper. Also fabrication a display box, potentially in plastic, or laser cut wood.
When we think about the cost, energy, and environmental impact that mining these precious metals cost, it's deeply disturbing to realize that in the end they're simply being thrown away.
Potential Materials:
We're looking into precious metals, potentially 3D printing directly with sterling silver or plated steel through shapeways, or printing our models in plastic and then using lost wax casting to cast our objects in one of the precious metals found in cellphones: Gold, Silver, Palladium, and Copper. Also fabrication a display box, potentially in plastic, or laser cut wood.