Electronic waste can be evaluated in three main categories:

1. Recycling Category

During this process, precious metals such as:

• Silver (Ag),
• Gold (Au),
• Palladium (Pd),
• Copper (Cu),

are extracted. These metals constitute the largest portion of the circuit board’s value in recycling. Additionally, the following materials can be assessed:

• Platinum,
• Aluminum,
• Stainless,
• Base metals,
• Tin,
• Tantalum,
• Nickel,
• Lead.

While some of these metals, like tin, are expensive, their separation process can be complex and costly.

 2. Secondary Usage Category

This includes used but functional electronics that can be sold as operational devices. Such electronics gain significantly higher value compared to recycling, as they retain their original purpose.

3. Components or Parts Reuse Category

The introduction of new technologies has reduced the amount of precious metals in electronic waste. For instance:

• Copper has replaced gold in many connections and circuits, significantly reducing recycling value.

However, many components from newer technology boards are highly suitable for reuse. Some of the most popular reusable components include:

• Processors
• Microprocessors
• Memory ICs
• Hard drives (HDDs)
• RAM modules
• Mobile phone parts (such as cameras, processors, and memory ICs)
• Batteries
• Displays and screens

Their market value can be dozens of times higher than their recycling value. This is beneficial not only in terms of profit but also contributes to the circular economy and reduces CO₂ emissions by avoiding the need to manufacture or recycle these components anew.

The Importance of Manufacturing Years:

The technological evolution of circuit boards over the years has directly impacted their recycling value and reuse potential. Here is a detailed overview:

• 1980–1990:
  Circuit boards during this era were rich in gold, palladium, and silver. The components were large, easy to dismantle, and had very high recycling value.
• 1990–2000:
  Advances in technology reduced the size of components, but the use of gold in connectors and contacts remained significant. These boards continued to be valuable due to their high content of precious metals.
• 2000–2005:
  The introduction of RoHS directives began restricting the use of hazardous substances, leading to a reduction in precious metal content. Although gold and palladium were used less, they were still present in notable quantities. Boards began incorporating cheaper metals such as nickel and copper.
• 2005–2010:
  Further manufacturing optimizations drastically reduced the use of gold and palladium. Boards were designed for mass production to reduce costs. However, high-value components like processors and memory chips still retained significant recycling value.
• 2010–2015:
  During this period, the amount of gold used decreased by nearly half, while palladium was reduced to minimal levels. These boards became less attractive for recycling, although key components such as processors and RAM modules remained suitable for reuse.
• Post-2015:
  Boards have been designed with greater efficiency and lower costs in mind, with copper, nickel, and aluminumreplacing gold and palladium. Compared to older electronics, the amount of precious metals has been reduced by half or more.
  While these boards still have value in recycling, they are often more profitable for reuse. Key components like processors, RAM modules, and certain microchips retain high reuse potential, making selective dismantling an essential part of the recycling process.

Determining the Manufacturing Year of Circuit Boards

1. Production Date Codes:
– Most boards have printed codes indicating the production year and week (e.g., “YYWW”: 2045 means 2020, week 45).
2. Component Date Codes:
– Microchips and capacitors often have marked dates (e.g., “2106” means 2021, week 6).
3. QR Codes and Serial Numbers:
– Scanning often reveals information about the manufacturer, production date, and batch number.
4. Factory Marks:
– Some boards feature special internal marks or serial numbers indicating the production year.

 What to Do If the Date Is Not Indicated?

– Check the device from which the board was extracted (e.g., the production date of the phone or computer model).

Why Are Manufacturing Year and Manufacturer Important?

The Importance of Manufacturing Year:

The technological age of a circuit board directly affects its recycling value. For example:

– 1980–2000 boards: High levels of precious metals (gold, palladium, silver).
– 2000–2015 boards: Reduction in precious metals due to RoHS directives and optimizations.
– Post-2015 boards: Most components are made with cheaper metals (nickel, copper), but some components (e.g., processors, RAM) remain suitable for reuse

Boards from different manufacturers vary in quality, the amount of precious metals, and component density. For instance:

1. High-End Manufacturers
– Use more precious metals (e.g., gold in connectors).
– Boards are dense, multilayered, and feature high-quality components.
– Examples: Apple, Samsung, Cisco.

2. Mid-Range Manufacturers
– Balanced use of precious metals.
– Quality sufficient for mass production.
– Examples: Lenovo, Asus, HP.

3. Low-End Manufacturers
– Minimal precious metals, low-cost components.
– Examples: ZTE, Alcatel, Gigabyte (lower-end components).

– Component Density: Boards with many components in a small area have higher value.
– Weight: Lighter, denser boards are more valuable.
– Cleanliness: Boards free from unnecessary elements (batteries, coolers) are more valuable.

Grading is a waste sorting system designed to bring order and efficiency to the electronic waste recycling process. Our 1–10 grading category system is a recommendation created to optimize storage, sorting, and recycling.

There are countless types of electronic waste, and their variety continues to grow with rapid technological advancements. For example, even something as specific as computer motherboards can be categorized as follows:

• By age: old or newer boards.
• By the number of chips: 0, 1, 2, or more chips.
• By size and form factor: Mini-ATX, ATX, large, small.
• Additional characteristics: branded (from well-known manufacturers), non-branded, colored, or non-colored boards.

In theory, we could sort everything into very detailed subcategories, but such precision would lead to enormous storage costs, requiring endless boxes or bags for each subcategory. To simplify the process, we recommend using 10 main grades, striking a balance between detail and practicality.

The goal of this system is to establish clear guidelines ensuring that all stakeholders in the sector – from waste collectors to recyclers – understand the criteria for each category. A unified system creates clarity and transparency throughout the waste management process.

1. Simplified storage
   There’s no need for countless boxes for every small subcategory – everything is organized into unified grading categories.
2. Faster buying and selling
   Clearly defined waste categories streamline the work of suppliers and recyclers, saving time and reducing the need for additional sorting.
3. Lower intermediary costs
   Waste is sorted at the initial stage, reducing the need for extra sorting, saving time, and optimizing resources.
4. Accurate sampling
   Homogeneous mass sampling allows for precise determination of precious metal content. Sorting waste into unified categories ensures reliable analysis results and more accurate sampling.

Our grading system is based on gold (Au) content, as it is the primary component determining the value of electronic boards for recycling. Gold is the most commonly used metric, as prices are directly tied to its concentration.

In our catalog, you’ll find a recommendation for the grade we suggest assigning to each product. This information helps:

• Ensure consistent sorting standards across the market.
• Simplify waste valuation and storage.
• Optimize recycling processes.

Material categorized based on a structured catalog ensures that its precious metal composition is similar and does not significantly vary. This approach provides the following benefits:

• More consistent samples – When materials are grouped by precious metal concentration using the Recovertcatalog, samples more accurately reflect the composition of the entire batch.
• Reduced risk of errors – Grouping materials with similar properties minimizes the likelihood of inaccurate analysis results, which can occur due to mixed materials.
• Fairer valuation – Ensures that the analyzed batch meets clear standards, enabling precise valuation based on its precious metal content.

The catalog serves as a vital tool for defining and standardizing categories by precious metal concentration and other essential parameters. In most cases, electronic waste is analyzed by shredding it into a uniform mass, from which a sample is taken using a homogenization method. This approach guarantees that the sample accurately represents the composition of the entire batch, providing reliable analysis results.

The grading system is not just about sorting – it’s about creating clarity, efficiency, and savings throughout the waste management process!

RAM (Random Access Memory) is a highly recognizable and popular part of any computer. When electronic waste holders try to evaluate whether buyers offer fair prices, RAM is often the first category they ask about.

For those interested in technical details, you can read more here:
🔗 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random-access_memory

Here, I’ll briefly explain the real value of RAM modules, as it’s often misunderstood or misrepresented.

Silver RAM vs Golden RAM

Many believe Golden RAM is always more valuable than Silver RAM. That’s not necessarily true. Silver RAM typically comes from older technologies where high amounts of precious metals—especially palladium—were used. So despite their less flashy appearance, their true value can be higher.

 You can find lab-tested analysis and precious metal composition in our Recovert catalog, helping you assess the real value of each type.

 Single Side vs Dual Side RAM

Another common myth is that dual-sided RAM is always worth more. That’s only accurate if both have the same gold-plated contact layer. If a single-sided RAM stick has a thicker gold layer, it will be more valuable, even with fewer chips.

Here’s a great video on how to visually identify the gold thickness in contacts:
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11pqdCaPef4

RAM Types: DDR1 to DDR5

The production technology also matters when evaluating value:

• DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 – older types, great for refining, but should be split into two subcategories based on gold layer thickness.

• DDR4 and DDR5 – due to their modern build, they’re often better for resale (re-use), especially when capacity is 4GB or more.

Instead of recycling, try finding refurbishers or resellers for DDR4 and DDR5 – the value is often higher that way.

Conclusion

RAM recycling isn’t just about weight or chips – it’s about metal concentration and recovery value. Learning to sort by gold thickness and understanding the evolution of RAM helps you avoid losing money and make smarter recycling decisions.

 If you want accurate data, not guesswork, visit the Recovert platform and explore our lab-tested RAM analysis.