Common Items that Contain Gold That Are Not Worth Recycling

Recycle and Refine GoldRecycle Precious MetalsRecycling and Refining
Written By Barry Lenson

Gold is all around us. It’s in the jewelry we don’t wear anymore, in the old cellphones that are gathering dust in our homes, and of course, in our cars. 

But just because gold is present doesn’t always mean it is worth recycling, for one of these reasons:

  • There is only a tiny amount of gold in an item – even though the gold is there.

  • The cost of extracting the gold in an item is greater than the value of the gold that is there. 

Here are some common items and substances that contain gold, but gold that is not worth reclaiming. 

  • Glass bottles – Yes, they do contain minute quantities of gold. But to get an ounce of gold, you would have to professionally recycle, we estimate, at least five million bottles. So is gold there? Yes, but it is not worth recycling. 

  • Beach sand – It is true that beach sand contains small amounts of gold, especially if you gather it in a region of the world where gold is prevalent or mined. But like the situation with glass bottles, you would have to process millions of pounds of the stuff to obtain even a small amount. And the cost of recycling all that sand would far outweigh the value of the gold you will end up with. 

  • Plants – When plants grow in soil that contains gold, many of them absorb minute quantities of the metal which, in theory, could be extracted. But the amount of gold is so small that reclaiming it is not worth the trouble.  

So, What Common Items Contain Enough Gold to Recycle Profitably?

Here are other items you have in your home that contain enough gold to recycle: 

  • Large quantities of computer motherboards and other circuit boards such as modems, graphic cards, and other peripherals

  • Medical devices

  • Old jewelry

  • Old religious medals and commemorative items

  • Printed circuit boards (PCBs) of all kinds

  • Some trophies and awards

  • Broken or old and unused jewelry

Gather Them Up, Call Us Up

If you call our precious metal refiners at 800-426-2344, we will be glad to discuss the kinds of gold and gold scrap you have. We will also explain how simple it is to have us test your scrap and, if you instruct us to, extract the gold they contain. Call us to learn more. 

Barry Lenson
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