ELECTRONIC SCRAP
Electronic scrap occupies a unique position in the secondary materials market. Printed circuit boards, processors and electronic components contain recoverable gold, silver, palladium and copper in concentrations that frequently exceed those found in natural ore deposits. A tonne of high-grade PCBs can yield more gold than a tonne of gold ore — which is why the term urban mining accurately describes what refineries and processing plants do with electronic scrap.
Demand for classified, documented e-scrap is consistent and growing. Electronics refineries, precious metal smelters and urban mining programmes across Europe require reliable supply of sorted, graded material that can be processed efficiently and compliantly. Farronix supplies electronic scrap sourced from industrial dismantling operations and electronic manufacturing streams across Asia, with full sorting, classification and documentation prior to shipment.
Key Technical Parameters
Precious metal content Au, Ag, Pd, Cu — concentration varies significantly by component type and grade; high-grade PCBs yield the highest PGM and gold content; low-grade mixed lots yield primarily copper
Material classification Electronic scrap is regulated under Basel Convention and EU Waste Shipment Regulation; correct HS code, origin declaration and import/export permits required for cross-border movement
Sorting and grading Material must be sorted by category prior to shipment; mixed unsorted lots are generally not accepted by European processors without prior agreement
Applicable standards Basel Convention; EU WEEE Directive compliance at destination; importer responsibilities vary by country
Forms & Products We Trade
Printed circuit boards (PCBs)
Server boards, telecom equipment boards and industrial PCBs; highest precious metal concentration; sorted and baled
CPUs and processors
High concentration of gold in bonding wires and contacts; one of the highest-value e-scrap categories by weight
RAM and memory modules
Contain gold-plated contacts and palladium; traded separately from general PCB lots
Connectors, pins and gold-plated components
Selectively harvested from electronic assemblies; high gold content relative to weight
Mixed e-scrap lot
s Sorted by broad category; composition declared prior to shipment; suitable for refineries with flexible processing capability
