Gold

Element: Gold (Au)

Where’s it mined: Most gold is mined in China, Australia, and South Africa.

Where is it mainly manufactured? Gold is used in so many different ways – from electronics to jewelry – so is used in manufacturing all over the world.

What’s it mainly used for: Gold is extremely useful. It is highly aesthetic: it is pliable and can be easily sculptured, it’s beautiful and highly sought after. But it is also unreactive, conducts electricity and does not tarnish. It is primarily used in jewelry (78% of the world’s supply) and ornamental objects (including Olympic medals for example), money or bullion, electronics and dentistry!

How much would you find in a laptop: Approximately 0.006 grams.

How does the use of gold affect the environment? Gold mining is one of the most destructive industries in the world. It can displace communities, contaminate drinking water, present health and safety risks to works, and harms the environment through the pollution of water and land with mercury and cyanide.

Mining and trading gold is also associated with human rights abuses, modern slavery, corruption and bribery.

Mining enough gold for just one wedding ring generates approximately 20 tons of waste!

How can we limit the impact on the environment?

Find out more about the No Dirty Gold campaign

https://earthworks.org/campaigns/no-dirty-gold/

How is it recycled: Gold is easily recycled via smelting, removing impurities, and re-casting.

When will we run out: Because gold is easily recyclable, and good prices for jewelry, for example, offer an incentive to recycle.

But many people do not recycle their old jewelry or electrical devices (e.g. smart phones) for sentimental reasons.

However, mining gold is becoming more difficult due to political unrest and local protests at mining sites; therefore prices are likely to increase, and recycling will become even more important to keep up with demand.

Where can you recycle it in Guernsey:

Both home users and commercial companies should contact Galaxy CI if they wish to recycle their devices, and receive formal confirmation by way of an Evidence Certificate that all data stored on the device has been securely destroyed.  

Home users can also recycle devices such as smart phones, laptops and PC’s at the States of Guernsey Longue Hougue site free of charge.

Local jewellers and antique dealers offer good rates for gold jewellry and ornamental decorates, either for recycling or resale.