Info on Cell Phone recycling

Sorry, but what am I missing?????/

If I sold 2000 lb. of discarded cell phones with plastic, but no battery @ $7.00 lb I would get paid $14,000.00

My quick math ( approximate only!) at todays current precious metal prices

* 5.3 ounces gold = $9000.00
* 220 lb. copper = $700.00
* 6.6 lb. silver = $3300.00

Total= $13,000.00 for refiner....

Please explain where im wrong. Thanks......

I was thinking the same thing. ^^^ The only thing I can come up with is you have to add the cost of mining and refining. It is cheaper out of ewaste because the mining is done already. Just my .02.

key phrase : whereas a tonne of discarded mobile phones can yield 150 grams (5.3 ounce) or more

Assuming by "tonne" he means metric tonne, your math is slightly off. A metric tonne is 2204 pounds, which means you would have 15,428 if you sold them whole.

So how is the END RECYCLER Making Money? It cost recycler more money to buy than what is recovered.

Its the internet and people can say whatever they want. We have no idea if those yields are anywhere close to reality. The other thing is the great intangible that we often forget, the first rule of scrapping: Find out if it is worth more than scrap. I would bet that some of those phones get tested and sold to people in developing countries for more than scrap value.