Recently, the rapid development of AI technology has significantly impacted the global storage market. According to industry data, 53% of global DRAM production capacity has been occupied by AI-related orders, causing the price of 32GB DDR5 memory kits to surge from 1,100 yuan to 3,410 yuan, a year-on-year increase of 210%. This price fluctuation has not only affected the new hardware market but also indirectly fueled a recycling boom for second-hand electronic products.
In the formal electronic waste treatment process, discarded circuit boards undergo high-temperature smelting to separate rare metals such as gold, silver, and palladium. Statistics show that the resource utilization rate of four types of components—CPUs, graphics cards, memory, and motherboards—exceeds 97%, demonstrating the efficiency of the e-waste recycling industry. A professional agency report indicates that the gold content in one ton of discarded mobile phone circuit boards can reach up to 300 grams, far exceeding the grade of ordinary gold ore, further highlighting the potential value of e-waste.
High-end server GPUs and chips, which contain higher proportions of metals like gold and palladium, have become core targets for the recycling market. PCB industry data shows that each ton of circuit boards contains approximately 0.1 to 0.5 kilograms of gold, providing important cost references for recycling companies. With the rise in hardware market prices, the precious metal value in discarded electronic products has been rediscovered, directly driving up quotes in the second-hand recycling market.
Taking the RTX 4060 graphics card as an example, its average second-hand circulation price has increased by 18% compared to its purchase price in the fourth quarter of last year, and the recycling price of whole used computers has also grown significantly. This trend indicates that old electronic devices in consumers' hands are transforming from "e-waste" into economically valuable resources. However, experts warn that the practice of burning old circuit boards or soaking them in strong acids to extract precious metals poses serious risks. Such operations not only produce toxic gases and strong acid waste liquids, which have been explicitly banned by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, but also involve illegal disposal of hazardous waste.
For consumers holding old discrete graphics cards, DDR2 or DDR3 memory modules, it is recommended to seek professional assessment and handling through formal e-waste recyclers. Formal channels not only ensure efficient recovery of precious metals but also avoid environmental pollution and legal risks. With the continuous improvement of the e-waste recycling system, this industry is expected to achieve a balance between environmental protection and economic benefits.
