Responsible Recycling for Printed Circuit Boards
AG Precious Metals Group supports the evaluation and recycling of printed circuit boards and electronic scrap containing recoverable precious and non-ferrous metals. Each lot is reviewed by board type, component density, condition, quantity, and material consistency before a suitable processing route is defined.
Not all circuit boards carry the same recovery value.
Board origin, generation, component population, edge connectors, plating, substrate, contamination, and lot consistency can all affect the potential metal content and the correct preparation route.
We identify what the boards are, where they came from, and how the lot is composed.
A reliable PCB recycling route begins with segregation and clear material information. Mixed grades, attached batteries, large aluminum parts, steel frames, plastics, and hazardous components can change handling requirements and commercial evaluation.
Application and equipment source help indicate likely board construction and metal profile.
Consistent, separated board grades are easier to assess than heavily mixed electronic scrap.
Photos, net weight, packaging, attached components, and available specifications improve the initial review.
Computer and server boards
Motherboards, server boards, memory-related boards, expansion cards, and associated assemblies.
Telecom and network boards
Boards from communication, switching, routing, transmission, and network infrastructure equipment.
Industrial control boards
Control, automation, instrumentation, power-management, and production-equipment circuit boards.
Consumer electronics boards
Boards recovered from selected electronic devices, appliances, displays, and related equipment.
High-grade electronic assemblies
Selected populated assemblies, connector-rich boards, cards, modules, and metal-bearing electronic units.
Sorted PCB production scrap
Offcuts, rejected boards, obsolete stock, and segregated production-related PCB materials.
PCB recycling is driven by the complete metal-bearing material profile.
Depending on board type and construction, electronic materials may contain precious metals alongside copper, tin, nickel, and other recoverable metals. Actual value must be established from the specific lot rather than assumed from appearance alone.
Gold-bearing areas
Selected contacts, edge fingers, connectors, plated surfaces, and component-related materials may contain gold.
Silver-bearing content
Silver may be present in selected solders, contacts, pastes, switches, and electronic components.
Palladium potential
Certain components, older technologies, and specialized electronic applications may include palladium-bearing material.
Copper-rich structure
Copper is a major constituent of many circuit boards and forms an important part of the overall recovery profile.
A controlled route from electronic scrap to metal recovery planning.
The process begins with material identification and segregation, then moves through preparation, representative evaluation, and selection of the most suitable recovery route.
Initial lot information
Share board type, equipment source, quantity, net weight, condition, packaging, photos, and any known material details.
Classification and segregation
The material is reviewed by board grade, application, component density, attached hardware, and consistency across the lot.
Safe preparation
Non-target items and problematic components are identified so the lot can follow an appropriate dismantling or preparation route.
Sampling and evaluation
Where required, representative preparation and assay coordination support a clearer understanding of the metal-bearing profile.
Recovery and settlement route
The technical and commercial path is defined around material quality, recoverable value, logistics, and agreed terms.
Electronic scrap requires disciplined material control.
PCBs may arrive with batteries, capacitors, displays, cooling units, cables, plastics, steel, aluminum, dust, or other attached materials. Clear segregation supports safer handling, more reliable evaluation, and a cleaner recovery route.
Remove batteries
Batteries and battery-containing units should be identified and handled separately before shipment or processing.
Separate major hardware
Large steel frames, aluminum heat sinks, housings, and unrelated mechanical parts should be declared or segregated.
Keep grades distinct
Separating high-grade, low-grade, telecom, server, industrial, and mixed boards improves evaluation clarity.
Maintain lot traceability
Origin, packaging, weight records, photographs, and batch identification support a controlled commercial process.
Support the PCB recovery path with the right evaluation services.
Electronic materials may require sampling, assay coordination, precious-metals recovery planning, or broader material classification before a final commercial route can be established.
Have printed circuit boards or electronic scrap ready for review?
Send the board type, equipment source, estimated net weight, quantity, condition, packaging details, and clear photos. AG will review the information and guide the next step.