Recovery of\nMetals from E‑waste: Facts, Methods,\nChallenges, Case Studies, and Sustainable Solutions

The\ngrowing issue of electronic waste (E-waste), driven\nby the\nexponential growth in electronic device usage, presents significant\nenvironmental and economic challenges. E-waste production has surged,\nincreasing by ∼2 million metric tonnes (Mt) annually, reaching\n60 Mt in 2023, with projections suggesting it will exceed 70 Mt by\n2030. Despite China, the United States, and India being the top E-waste\nproducers, their recycling rates remain critically low at 16%, 15%,\nand 1%, respectively. E-waste contains valuable metals, such as gold\n(Au), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu), which comprise ∼60% of\nits composition. However, only 17.4% of the global E-waste was appropriately\nrecycled in 2023. This Review discusses the latest data on E-waste,\nevaluates current metal recovery methods, and emphasizes the urgency\nof sustainable solutions to mitigate environmental hazards and promote\na circular economy. The paper also covers case studies highlighting\nchallenges and potential strategies for enhancing metal recovery efficiency,\ncontributing significantly to global sustainability efforts and waste\nmanagement.