Circuit board vs pizza (an abstract comparison)

[Scrap Master J]

I wanted to try to address the gold in cicuit board issue. Often the focus is on the gold. On the surface it makes sense, gold has a high value density. But obtaining pure gold from circuit board material is a complex task, with additional costs, dangers, waste, etc.

So, let's reset. Let's look at something else common,abundant and diverse to relate to ... Pizza ... ?

Pizza?

Ok. Pizza in general has a few main components. Dough, sauce, cheese. Circuit board has a few main components. Board, traces (Often copper), circuitry (assorted metals+).

What does this mean?

If you have a hot, fresh, delicious pizza that someone desires, you can expect top dollar for you product.
If you have a current, decent spec computer someone desires, you can expect top dollar for your product.

Ok. The pizza is now cold. But, it has a highly sought after topping, pepperoni, mushrooms, etc.
Ok. The computer is aging. But, it has good ram, cpu, video card.
The parts may be worth more than the whole.

The pizza hit the floor. No one will buy it.
The computer is crap. It is still a mix of metals that have value.
The pizza has garlic. A little mixed thru the entire pizza.
The computer has gold. A little mixed thru the entire circuitry.

Do you try to sort out the garlic?
Do you try to sort out the gold?

Now you can't sell a junked pizza to make new pizzas from, but circuit boards can be sold for their mixed metal compositions which can go on to become new circuitry. However, simply going after the gold (garlic) is not the best use of time.

Circuit boards are like pizzas. They have common ingredients in each, but they are different in the details of each. Knowing which catagory a circuit board is graded, is a general guide to the metals it contains.

Try to obtain the boards (pizzas) with the most desired traits, but don't go for just the gold (garlic).

[hobo finds]

[Repurposer]

In other words it makes sense to work with the boards because they might have inherent value (A combination pizza with everything) but unless you have the means to cheaply extract those metals and market them and make a profit don't expect much more than the affects of biting in to a plain cheese pizza. .

[IdahoScrapper]

I can't get the eggs out of a baked cake. I'll let someone else do that.

[hobo finds]

[nutpie]

I'm not specifically going after the gold or any other element itself. I'm going after what an e-waste buyer pays more for. At the moment, that seems to be what the percentage of gold is in the different types of pcb's. You nor I set the price of e-waste. But it seems gold sets the price (plus the buyer gets a little mark-up). And that seems to be the rule, not the exception.

[Scrappah]

I think you have to look at the whole PCB because some of the toppings on the pizza actually detract from the value.

[jimicrk]

I think you have to look at the whole PCB because some of the toppings on the pizza actually detract from the value.

Tis true. Transformers and large caps can greatly reduce the value of a circuit board.

[Scrap Master J]

I think you have to look at the whole PCB because some of the toppings on the pizza actually detract from the value.

Agreed. I don't like anchovies. To me a pizza with anchovies removed is worth more than if they are still on it.