An initiative to maximise the recycling metals, including platinum group metals (pgms), from scrap has been launched by a coalition of government bodies and private companies.

The initiative, called Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP), aims to achieve its aim via a standardisation of recycling practices worldwide and by extending the life of existing products via secondary markets.

Thus far the coalition includes private computer manufacturers Dell, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Ericsson, as well as governmental organisations, pressure groups and recycling firms.

The project, which is due to commence on March 7th, comes in the wake of the increased use of by-products from platinum and zinc mining in electronics and the consequent higher prices they can command.

Use of ruthenium, which is used in resistors and hard-drives, has increased seven-fold over the last year.

Commenting on the project Ruediger Keuhr from the United Nations University said: "There's more than gold in those mountains of high-tech scrap.

"This partnership is committed to salvaging these increasingly precious resources and preventing them from fouling the environment," he added.

Products that have been produced via the scheme's recycling will bear a StEP hallmark.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd