E-waste trade driven by value of precious metals in discarded devices

PORT KLANG: A discarded computer or electronic device may have reached the end of its useful life, but the materials inside it can still command a price.

That commercial value is one of the economic drivers of the international e-waste trade.

Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) Port Klang commander Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said printed circuit boards (PCBs) could contain precious metals, including gold, silver and palladium.

Also found in PCBs are tin, aluminium, nickel, zinc and iron. Lead is also among the materials identified.

Department of Environment figures estimate that an e-waste consignment weighing 15 to 20 tonnes can be worth US$4,000 to US$8,000. It puts disposal costs at RM500 to RM3,000 per tonne.

Nik Ezanee said the figures highlighted the economics of e-waste: valuable materials could be recovered and sold, while disposing of the remaining waste incurred a cost.

"This means obsolete electronics cannot simply be regarded as worthless.

"The commercial incentive lies in extracting materials that still have value, particularly precious metals, while the remaining waste must still be handled and disposed of properly."

He said controlling the movement of e-waste at the border was only part of the equation.

"We must also ensure that the recovery, processing and disposal of the material are carried out through legitimate channels."