The report calls for the development of legal requirements for the recycling and reuse of critical raw materials. (Source: voanews.com) A report by European Union The (EU)-backed study says the recovery of rare materials from e-waste is a security requirement for Europe and should be legislated. According to the EU-funded CEWASTE report, critical raw materials – including gold, silver and cobalt in many electronics – can be recycled and reused. This will protect raw material supply for consumer electronics, even Europe’s defense industry. Even these rare materials are essential for wind turbines and electric cars. They therefore play an important role in helping countries meet climate protection goals and ensure competitiveness in manufacturing. However, the report notes that while supplies of these essential materials are vulnerable to geopolitical fluctuations, Europe is still too dependent on foreign supplies with recycling rates “close to equals 0.” According to the report, the low and volatile prices of many of these raw materials make recycling them often seen as too costly for businesses. The report calls for the development of regulatory requirements for the recycling and reuse of critical raw materials, financial incentives to support the industry, and increased control over the amount of e-waste that is exported. leave the EU. The report highlights some types of e-waste that have large enough raw materials to be recovered. These include printed circuit board materials from discarded electrical equipment; batteries from e-waste and scrap cars; iron boron neodymium magnets from hard drives and motors of electric bicycles, scooters and scrap cars; and fluorescent powder from cathode ray tubes and lamps in television sets and displays. CEWASTE says these materials are often present in very small quantities in individual categories, so they are often overlooked. For example, the report estimates that by 2025, the waste of fluorescent lamps in Europe will contain 92 tons of critical raw materials, while printed circuit boards in electronic waste of this area can hold up to 41 tons of silver and 10 tons of gold. The report states that the amount of the above material will be equivalent to that used to produce new items. A United Nations (UN) report shows that the world generated more than 50 million tons of e-waste in 2019. Much of this ended up in landfills and scrap yards. With an estimated 17% of electronic products being recycled, the UN says more than $55 billion worth of materials are wasted each year as the world has to extract more materials to make products. new./.

Workers work at an e-waste collection center in Ploufragan, western France. Photo: AFP/VNA According to the European Union (EU) funded CEWASTE e-waste report, circuit boards, magnets in drives and electric vehicles, batteries and fluorescent lamps are among the items containing important raw materials. , including gold, silver and cobalt, can be recycled and reused. However, these rare materials often make up a very small percentage of each item thrown away, making them often overlooked. For example, the report estimates that by 2025, discarded fluorescent lamps in Europe will contain 92 tonnes of vital raw materials. Printed circuit boards in the region’s e-waste could contain up to 41 tons of silver and 10 tons of gold by 2025. Meanwhile, Europe’s supply chains have become “too vulnerable”, especially is the defense industry, as noted by Mr. Pascal Leroy – one of the authors of the report. The production of items in Europe, from computer systems to drones, is largely dependent on external supplies. As a result, the report highlights that recycling e-waste will help protect vital supplies for consumer electronics and even the European defense industry. In addition, with the materials needed to make wind turbines and electric cars, items that are discarded if recycled also play an important role in meeting climate change and environmental goals. improve the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry. The report also highlights some types of e-waste that are said to have sufficient raw materials to be recycled and recovered. These include printed circuit board materials obtained from discarded electronic equipment; batteries from e-waste and scrap cars; neodymium iron boron magnets from the hard drives and motors of electric bicycles and scooters, and fluorescent powder from lamps and cathode ray tubes found in televisions and television screens. The researchers found that many raw materials have low value and are volatile, meaning that recycling them is considered too expensive for businesses. The report therefore calls for legislation on the recycling and reuse of critical raw materials, financing to support the recycling industry, and better control of shipments of waste. e-waste is transported out of the EU. According to the “Global Electronic Waste Monitoring 2020” report published by the United Nations (UN) in July last year, in 2019, there were a total of 53.6 million tons of e-waste worldwide. , up 21% from 5 years ago. In which, Asia is the largest producer with about 24.9 million tons, followed by the Americas 13.1 million tons and Europe 12 million tons. Meanwhile, the amount of e-waste in Africa and Oceania is 2.9 and 0.7 million tons, respectively. Of the more than 53 million tons of e-waste generated, only 17% of the waste is recycled, with the rest going to landfills, incineration or simply not being treated. This means that an amount of rare materials such as gold, silver … worth up to 55 billion USD “presents” in e-waste that has been thrown away or burned instead of being collected for treatment. and reuse. Meanwhile, the exploitation of raw materials has been promoted in many countries to create new products, causing environmental concerns.

Artificial diamond planting technology allows the ashes to turn into diamonds. Diamonds The condition for carbon smelting into artificial diamond is an environment of 1.5 million pounds / inch2 pressure and 1,500 degrees Celsius. Since 1954, General Electric Corporation (USA) has successfully installed diamond compression chambers. artificial. Starting in the 1980s, artificial diamond jewelry appeared on the market. In recent years, thanks to Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), an innovative artificial diamond product comparable to that of a natural diamond has been created. In the US, some cremation companies incorporate artificial diamond smelting technology. They introduce a service that turns the ashes of the dead into diamonds. Diamonds are artificial diamonds forged in a compression chamber with cremated ashes. After cremating the dead body, the crematorium took the ashes to extract carbon. They put this carbon into the diamond implantation chamber, refining the gemstone. Polygonal and polymorphic Diamonds meet all styles and colors. From the ecological perspective, turning the dead body into diamonds is a solution of “green” burial. Because, it contributes to CO2 reduction. “Carbon from the deceased’s body only meets 10% of the amount
carbon needed, ”said Adelle Archer – co-founder and CEO of Eterneva, a cremation company based in Texas. The crematorium needs to bring the remaining 90% in from the outside. CO2 is one of the richest sources of carbon. Modern science has also succeeded in separating carbon from this exhaust. Observing the diamond smelting process shows that carbon ashes play a role as grains of sand in the scallops body. It continuously absorbs the added carbon, eventually forming a gemstone, exactly the same way a pearl is born. The crematorium also provides a color selection service for the diamond. Regardless of what color is required by a deceased relative, they can do so by adding the corresponding element, such as nitrogen (giving a yellow diamond), boron (giving a blue diamond), etc. After the color, they allow their relatives to lose the choice of a diamond shape, design a memorial jewelry to store or wear on the body. Diamonds have the same value as artificial diamonds. Currently, the price of artificial diamonds is about 3,000 USD / carat (about 70 million VND). The future of burial? Diamond jewelry to ease the pain of losing a relative. Diamonds act as the embodiment of the deceased. “It comforts people who stay behind, ease pain and lift their spirits by thinking, the deceased is still with us,” Archer said. In early 2021, ecologist Tessie Offner (Florida) suddenly lost her father. In the midst of a pandemic, she was forced to choose a cremation for him. As soon as he learned that the crematorium had a service to turn the ashes into diamonds, Offner immediately found out. She is known that the diamond training time from ashes can last from 3 weeks to 2 months (depending on the color choice). During this time, Offner is authorized to monitor every step of the process. She also has more time to collect money and pay bills. As an ecologist, Offner appreciated the “diamond burial” solution. She is also satisfied with the lightness, mobility, and toughness of the diamond. However, not everyone agrees with Offner. Professor Tim Cupery (Fresno) said that he does not have the habit of sticking with things. Although recently, Cupery’s wife accidentally dropped her heirloom ring, but he did not blame or be upset. Cupery had no thought of turning the ashes of his relatives into diamonds, keeping them with him. Dancer Barbara McAlister (Texas) does not like the crematorium to bring in too much carbon from the outside. She feels that only 10% of a human diamond is a corpse that does not function as a substitute. “If it could be 50 percent or more, I would think,” McAlister said. Besides, the crematorium also does not limit the number of diamonds. Based on the available carbon source, they meet any quantity requirement. Many people are concerned that this is just a disguised artificial diamond trade. Although not popular, diamonds ashes are expected to become a green and aesthetic burial. Cremators in the US are very transparent in this practice. They publish detailed price lists, allowing funerals to choose services with financial conditions.