Telecom gear

The majority of Metech Recycling's scrap comes from business customers, such as telecom companies. Andrew McManus (left) from the company shows some circuit boards from a cell phone base station, like the one on the floor. When cell phone companies switch from 3G to 4G, for example, it means a refresh of a lot of electronics. Circuit boards contain a combination of valuable metals, such as copper and tin, that can be separated at special metal smelters outside the U.S. In general, household e-waste is less valuable because goods such as TVs don't have a lot of valuable materials and are harder to handle.